Recyclable printing device with tamper protection

ABSTRACT

A recyclable device comprising a chassis supporting a pagewidth print head for printing an image, an ink supply means for supplying ink to the print head, and a supply of print media on to which said sensed image is printed. A casing surrounds and encases said chassis so that the ink supply means is unable to be accessed without destruction of the casing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/663,476filed on Sep. 15, 2000, issued as Pat. No. 6,876394 which is aDivisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/113,086 filed on Jul. 10,1998, now abandoned all of which are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates substantially to the concept of adisposable camera having instant printing capabilities and inparticular, discloses a method integrating the electronic components ofa camera system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently, the concept of a “single use” disposable camera has become anincreasingly popular consumer item. Disposable camera systems presentlyon the market normally include an internal film roll and a simplifiedgearing mechanism for traversing the film roll across an imaging systemincluding a shutter and lensing system. The user, after utilizing asingle film roll returns the camera system to a film development centerfor processing. The film roll is taken out of the camera system andprocessed and the prints returned to the user. The camera system is thenable to be re-manufactured through the insertion of a new film roll intothe camera system, the replacement of any worn or wearable parts and there-packaging of the camera system in accordance with requirements. Inthis way, the concept of a single use “disposable” camera is provided tothe consumer.

Recently, a camera system has been proposed by the present applicantwhich provides for a handheld camera device having an internal printhead, image sensor and processing means such that images sense by theimage sensing means, are processed by the processing means and adaptedto be instantly printed out by the printing means on demand. Theproposed camera system further discloses a system of internal “printrolls” carrying print media such as film on to which images are to beprinted in addition to ink for supplying to the printing means for theprinting process. The print roll is further disclosed to be detachableand replaceable within the camera system.

Unfortunately, such a system is likely to only be constructed at asubstantial cost and it would be desirable to provide for a moreinexpensive form of instant camera system which maintains a substantialnumber of the quality aspects of the aforementioned arrangement.

It would be further advantageous to provide for the effectiveinterconnection of the sub components of a camera system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

-   -   According to the invention there is provided a recyclable,        one-time use, print on demand, digital camera comprising:

a chassis carrying:

-   -   an image sensor device for sensing an image;    -   a processing means for processing said sensed image;    -   a pagewidth print head for printing said sensed image;    -   an ink supply means for supplying ink to the print head;    -   a supply of print media on to which said sensed image is        printed; and

a casing surrounding an encasing chassis so that the ink supply means isunable to be accessed without destruction of the casing.

The casing may comprise two shells, the shells being bonded togetherduring one of a manufacturing process and a recycling process. Theshells may, additionally, be clipped together.

The shells may be of a synthetic plastics material so that the casing isa recyclable.

The ink supply means may comprise an ink supply cartridge which definesa plurality of ink supply channels, each of which is in communicationwith the print head and each channel containing a different color ink,in use, for enabling full color printing to be effected.

The ink supply cartridge may include an inlet opening in communicationwith each channel via which said channel is refilled during recycling ofthe camera. The inlet openings may be closed off by means of a suitableplug.

Each channel may have a vent associated therewith, the vent being openduring a refilling operation of the ink channel to allow egress of airfrom the channel and the vent being sealed after the refillingoperation.

The seal may be a replaceable seal to be removed during the refillingoperation and replaced by a new seal after completion of the refillingoperation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of thepresent invention, preferred forms of the invention will now bedescribed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of the assembled camera ofthe preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear perspective view, partly exploded, of thepreferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the chassis of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the chassis illustrating mounting ofelectric motors;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the ink supply mechanism ofthe preferred embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the assembled form of the inksupply mechanism of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the assembled form of the inksupply mechanism of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the platten unit of thepreferred embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the assembled form of the platten unit;

FIG. 10 is also a perspective view of the assembled form of the plattenunit;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the printhead recappingmechanism of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a close up, exploded perspective view of the recappingmechanism of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the ink supply cartridge ofthe preferred embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a close up, perspective view, partly in section, of theinternal portions of the ink supply cartridge in an assembled form;

FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram of one form of chip layer of theimage capture and processing chip of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the assemblyprocess of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 17 illustrates a front exploded perspective view of the assemblyprocess of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 18 illustrates a perspective view of the assembly process of thepreferred embodiment;

FIG. 19 illustrates a perspective view of the assembly process of thepreferred embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating the insertion of the plattenunit in the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 21 illustrates the interconnection of the electrical components ofthe preferred embodiment;

FIG. 22 illustrates the process of assembling the preferred embodiment;and

FIG. 23 is a perspective view further illustrating the assembly processof the preferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS

Turning initially simultaneously to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 there areillustrated perspective views of an assembled camera constructed inaccordance with the preferred embodiment with FIG. 1 showing a frontperspective view and FIG. 2 showing a rear perspective view. The camera1 includes a paper or plastic film jacket 2 which can include simplifiedinstructions 3 for the operation of the camera system 1. The camerasystem 1 includes a first “take” button 4 which is depressed to capturean image. The captured image is output via output slot 6. A further copyof the image can be obtained through depressing a second “printer copy”button 7 whilst an LED light 5 is illuminated. The camera system alsoprovides the usual viewfinder 8 in addition to a CCD imagecapture/lensing system 9.

The camera system 1 provides for a standard number of output printsafter which the camera system 1 ceases to function. A prints leftindicator slot 10 is provided to indicate the number of remainingprints. A refund scheme at the point of purchase is assumed to beoperational for the return of used camera systems for recycling.

Turning now to FIG. 3, the assembly of the camera system is based aroundan internal chassis 12 which can be a plastic injection molded part. Apair of paper pinch rollers 28, 29 utilized for de-curling are snapfitted into corresponding frame holes eg. 26, 27.

As shown in FIG. 4, the chassis 12 includes a series of mutually opposedprongs e.g. 13, 14 into which is snapped fitted a series of electricmotors 16, 17. The electric motors 16, 17 can be entirely standard withthe motor 16 being of a stepper motor type. The motors 16,17 includecogs 19, 20 for driving a series of gear wheels. A first set of gearwheels is provided for controlling a paper cutter mechanism and a secondset is provided for controlling print roll movement.

Turning next to FIGS. 5 to 7, there is illustrated an ink supplymechanism 40 utilized in the camera system. FIG. 5 illustrates a rearexploded perspective view, FIG. 6 illustrates a rear assembledperspective view and FIG. 7 illustrates a front assembled view. The inksupply mechanism 40 is based around an ink supply cartridge 42 whichcontains printer ink and a print head mechanism for printing outpictures on demand. The ink supply cartridge 42 includes a side aluminumstrip 43 which is provided as a shear strip to assist in cutting imagesfrom a paper roll.

A dial mechanism 44 is provided for indicating the number of “printsleft”. The dial mechanism 44 is snap fitted through a correspondingmating portion 46 so as to be freely rotatable.

As shown in FIG. 6, the mechanism 40 includes a flexible PCB strip 47which interconnects with the print head and provides for control of theprint head. The interconnection between the Flex PCB strip and an imagesensor and print head chip can be via Tape Automated Bonding (TAB)strips 51, 58. A molded aspherical lens and aperture shim 50 (FIG. 5) isalso provided for imaging an image onto the surface of the image sensorchip normally located within cavity 53 and a light box module or hood 52is provided for snap fitting over the cavity 53 so as to provide forproper light control. A series of decoupling capacitors e.g. 34 can alsobe provided. Further a plug 45 (FIG. 7) is provided for re-plugging inkholes after refilling. A series of guide prongs e.g. 55-57 are furtherprovided for guiding the flexible PCB strip 47.

The ink supply mechanism 40 interacts with a platten unit 60 whichguides print media under a printhead located in the ink supplymechanism. FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of the platten unit 60, whileFIGS. 9 and 10 show assembled views of the platten unit. The plattenunit 60 includes a first pinch roller 61 which is snap fitted to oneside of a platten base 62. Attached to a second side of the platten base62 is a cutting mechanism 63 which traverses the platen unit 60 by meansof a rod 64 having a screw thread which is rotated by means of coggedwheel 65 which is also fitted to the platten base 62. The screw threadedrod 64 mounts a block 67 which includes a cutting wheel 68 fastened viaa fastener 69. Also mounted to the block 67 is a counter actuator whichincludes a pawl. The pawl 71 acts to rotate the dial mechanism 44 ofFIG. 6 upon the return traversal of the cutting wheel. As shownpreviously in FIG. 6, the dial mechanism 44 includes a cogged surfacewhich interacts with pawl 71 thereby maintaining a count of the numberof photographs by means of numbers embossed on the surface of dialmechanism 44. The cutting mechanism 63 is inserted into the platten base62 by means of a snap fit via clips e.g. 74.

The platen unit 60 includes an internal recapping mechanism 80 forrecapping the printhead when not in use. The recapping mechanism 80includes a sponge portion 81 and is operated via a solenoid coil so asto provide for recapping of the print head. In the preferred embodiment,there is provided an inexpensive form of printhead re-capping mechanismprovided for incorporation into a handheld camera system so as toprovide for printhead re-capping of an inkjet printhead.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exploded view of the recapping mechanism whilstFIG. 12 illustrates a close up of the end portion thereof. There-capping mechanism 80 is structured around a solenoid including a 16turn coil 75 which can comprise insulated wire. The coil 75 is turnedaround a first stationery solenoid arm 76 which is mounted on a bottomsurface of the platen base 62 (FIG. 8) and includes a post portion 77 tomagnify effectiveness of operation. The arm 76 can comprise a ferrousmaterial.

A second moveable arm 78 of the solenoid actuator is also provided. Thearm 78 is moveable and is also made of ferrous material. Mounted on thearm is a sponge portion surrounded by an elastomer strip 79. Theelastomer strip 79 is of a generally arcuate cross-section and acts as aleaf spring against the surface of the printhead ink supply cartridge 42(FIG. 5) so as to provide for a seal against the surface of theprinthead ink supply cartridge 42. In the quiescent position anelastomer spring unit 87, 88 acts to resiliently deform the elastomerseal 79 against the surface of the ink supply unit 42.

When it is desired to operate the printhead unit, upon the insertion ofpaper, the solenoid coil 75 is activated so as to cause the arm 78 tomove down to be adjacent to the end plate 76. The arm 78 is held againstend plate 76 while the printhead is printing by means of a small “keepercurrent” in coil 75. Simulation results indicate that the keeper currentcan be significantly less than the actuation current. Subsequently,after photo printing, the paper is guillotined by the cutting mechanism63 of FIG. 8 acting against aluminum strip 43, and rewound so as toclear the area of the re-capping mechanism 80. Subsequently, the currentis turned off and springs 87, 88 return the arm 78 so that the elastomerseal is again resting against the printhead ink supply cartridge.

It can be seen that the preferred embodiment provides for a simple andinexpensive means of re-capping a printhead through the utilization of asolenoid type device having a long rectangular form. Further, thepreferred embodiment utilizes minimal power in that currents are onlyrequired whilst the device is operational and additionally, only a lowkeeper current is required whilst the printhead is printing.

Turning next to FIGS. 13 and 14, FIG. 13 illustrates an explodedperspective of the ink supply cartridge 42 whilst FIG. 14 illustrates aclose up sectional view of a bottom of the ink supply cartridge with theprinthead unit in place. The ink supply cartridge 42 is based around apagewidth printhead 102 which comprises a long slither of silicon havinga series of holes etched on the back surface for the supply of ink to afront surface of the silicon wafer for subsequent ejection via a microelectromechanical system. The form of ejection can be many differentforms such as those set out in the tables below.

Of course, many other inkjet technologies, as referred to the attachedtables below, can also be utilized when constructing a printhead unit102. The fundamental requirement of the ink supply cartridge 42 is thesupply of ink to a series of color channels etched through the backsurface of the printhead 102. In the description of the preferredembodiment, it is assumed that a three color printing process is to beutilized so as to provide full color picture output. Hence, the printsupply unit includes three ink supply reservoirs being a cyan reservoir104, a magenta reservoir 105 and a yellow reservoir 106. Each of thesereservoirs is required to store ink and includes a corresponding spongetype material 107-109 which assists in stabilizing ink within thecorresponding ink channel and inhibiting the ink from sloshing back andforth when the printhead is utilized in a handheld camera system. Thereservoirs 104, 105, 106 are formed through the mating of first exteriorplastic piece 110 and a second base piece 111.

At a first end 118 of the base piece 111 a series of air inlet 113-115are provided. Each air inlet leads to a corresponding winding channelwhich is hydrophobically treated so as to act as an ink repellent andtherefore repel any ink that may flow along the air inlet channel. Theair inlet channel further takes a convoluted path assisting in resistingany ink flow out of the chambers 104-106. An adhesive tape portion 117is provided for sealing the channels within end portion 118.

At the top end, there is included a series of refill holes (not shown)for refilling corresponding ink supply chambers 104, 105, 106. A plug121 is provided for sealing the refill holes.

Turning now to FIG. 14, there is illustrated a close up perspectiveview, partly in section through the ink supply cartridge 42 of FIG. 13when formed as a unit. The ink supply cartridge includes the three colorink reservoirs 104, 105, 106 which supply ink to different portions ofthe back surface of printhead 102 which includes a series of apertures128 defined therein for carriage of the ink to the front surface.

The ink supply cartridge 42 includes two guide walls 124, 125 whichseparate the various ink chambers and are tapered into an end portionabutting the surface of the printhead 102. The guide walls 124, 125 arefurther mechanically supported by block portions e.g. 126 which areplaced at regular intervals along the length of the ink supply unit. Theblock portions 126 have space at portions close to the back of printhead102 for the flow of ink around the back surface thereof.

The ink supply unit is preferably formed from a multi-part plasticinjection mold and the mold pieces e.g. 110, 111 (FIG. 13) snap togetheraround the sponge pieces 107, 109. Subsequently, a syringe type devicecan be inserted in the ink refill holes and the ink reservoirs filledwith ink with the air flowing out of the air outlets 113-115.Subsequently, the adhesive tape portion 117 and plug 121 are attachedand the printhead tested for operation capabilities. Subsequently, theink supply cartridge 42 can be readily removed for refilling by means ofremoving the ink supply cartridge, performing a washing cycle, and thenutilizing the holes for the insertion of a refill syringe filled withink for refilling the ink chamber before returning the ink supplycartridge 42 to a camera.

Turning now to FIG. 15, there is shown an example layout of the ImageCapture and Processing Chip (ICP) 48.

The Image Capture and Processing Chip 48 provides most of the electronicfunctionality of the camera with the exception of the print head chip.The chip 48 is a highly integrated system. It combines CMOS imagesensing, analog to digital conversion, digital image processing, DRAMstorage, ROM, and miscellaneous control functions in a single chip.

The chip is estimated to be around 32 mm² using a leading edge 0.18micron CMOS/DRAM/APS process. The chip size and cost can scale somewhatwith Moore's law, but is dominated by a CMOS active pixel sensor array201, so scaling is limited as the sensor pixels approach the diffractionlimit.

The ICP 48 includes CMOS logic, a CMOS image sensor, DRAM, and analogcircuitry. A very small amount of flash memory or other non-volatilememory is also preferably included for protection against reverseengineering.

Alternatively, the ICP can readily be divided into two chips: one forthe CMOS imaging array, and the other for the remaining circuitry. Thecost of this two chip solution should not be significantly differentthan the single chip ICP, as the extra cost of packaging and bond-padarea is somewhat cancelled by the reduced total wafer area requiring thecolor filter fabrication steps.

The ICP preferably contains the following functions:

Function 1.5 megapixel image sensor Analog Signal Processors Imagesensor column decoders Image sensor row decoders Analogue to DigitalConversion (ADC) Column ADC's Auto exposure 12 Mbits of DRAM DRAMAddress Generator Color interpolator Convolver Color ALU Halftone matrixROM Digital halftoning Print head interface 8 bit CPU core Program ROMFlash memory Scratchpad SRAM Parallel interface (8 bit) Motor drivetransistors (5) Clock PLL JTAG test interface Test circuits Busses Bondpads

The CPU, DRAM, Image sensor, ROM, Flash memory, Parallel interface, JTAGinterface and ADC can be vendor supplied cores. The ICP is intended torun on 1.5V to minimize power consumption and allow convenient operationfrom two AA type battery cells.

FIG. 15 illustrates a layout of the ICP 48. The ICP 48 is dominated bythe imaging array 201, which consumes around 80% of the chip area. Theimaging array is a CMOS 4 transistor active pixel design with aresolution of 1,500×1,000. The array can be divided into theconventional configuration, with two green pixels, one red pixel, andone blue pixel in each pixel group. There are 750×500 pixel groups inthe imaging array.

The latest advances in the field of image sensing and CMOS image sensingin particular can be found in the October, 1997 issue of IEEETransactions on Electron Devices and, in particular, pages 1689 to 1968.Further, a specific implementation similar to that disclosed in thepresent application is disclosed in Wong et al., “CMOS Active PixelImage Sensors Fabricated Using a 1.8V, 0.25 μm CMOS Technology”, IEDM1996, page 915.

The imaging array uses a 4 transistor active pixel design of a standardconfiguration. To minimize chip area and therefore cost, the imagesensor pixels should be as small as feasible with the technologyavailable. With a four transistor cell, the typical pixel size scales as20 times the lithographic feature size. This allows a minimum pixel areaof around 3.6 μm×3.6 μm. However, the photosite must be substantiallyabove the diffraction limit of the lens. It is also advantageous to havea square photosite, to maximize the margin over the diffraction limit inboth horizontal and vertical directions. In this case, the photosite canbe specified as 2.5 μm×2.5 μm. The photosite can be a photogate, pinnedphotodiode, charge modulation device, or other sensor.

The four transistors are packed as an ‘L’ shape, rather than arectangular region, to allow both the pixel and the photosite to besquare. This reduces the transistor packing density slightly, increasingpixel size. However, the advantage in avoiding the diffraction limit isgreater than the small decrease in packing density.

The transistors also have a gate length which is longer than the minimumfor the process technology. These have been increased from a drawnlength of 0.18 micron to a drawn length of 0.36 micron. This is toimprove the transistor matching by making the variations in gate lengthrepresent a smaller proportion of the total gate length.

The extra gate length, and the ‘L’ shaped packing, mean that thetransistors use more area than the minimum for the technology. Normally,around 8 μm² would be required for rectangular packing. Preferably, 9.75μm² has been allowed for the transistors.

The total area for each pixel is 16 μm², resulting from a pixel size of4 μm×4 μm. With a resolution of 1,500×1,000, the area of the imagingarray 101 is 6,000 μm×4,000 μm, or 24 mm².

The presence of a color image sensor on the chip affects the processrequired in two major ways:

-   -   The CMOS fabrication process should be optimised to minimize        dark current

Color filters are required. These can be fabricated using dyedphotosensitive polyimides, resulting in an added process complexity ofthree spin coatings, three photolithographic steps, three developmentsteps, and three hardbakes.

There are 15,000 analog signal processors (ASPs) 205, one for each ofthe columns of the sensor. The ASPs amplify the signal, provide a darkcurrent reference, sample and hold the signal, and suppress the fixedpattern noise (FPN).

There are 375 analog to digital converters 206, one for each fourcolumns of the sensor array. These may be delta-sigma or successiveapproximation type ADC's. A row of low column ADC's are used to reducethe conversion speed required, and the amount of analog signaldegradation incurred before the signal is converted to digital. Thisalso eliminates the hot spot (affecting local dark current) and thesubstrate coupled noise that would occur if a single high speed ADC wasused. Each ADC also has two four bit DAC's which trim the offset andscale of the ADC to further reduce FPN variations between columns. TheseDAC's are controlled by data stored in flash memory during chip testing.

The column select logic 204 is a 1:1500 decoder which enables theappropriate digital output of the ADCs onto the output bus. As each ADCis shared by four columns, the least significant two bits of the rowselect control 4 input analog multiplexors.

A row decoder 207 is a 1:1000 decoder which enables the appropriate rowof the active pixel sensor array. This selects which of the 1000 rows ofthe imaging array is connected to analog signal processors. As the rowsare always accessed in sequence, the row select logic can be implementedas a shift register.

An auto exposure system 208 adjusts the reference voltage of the ADC 205in response to the maximum intensity sensed during the previous frameperiod. Data from the green pixels is passed through a digital peakdetector. The peak value of the image frame period before capture (thereference frame) is provided to a digital to analogue converter (DAC),which generates the global reference voltage for the column ADCs. Thepeak detector is reset at the beginning of the reference frame. Theminimum and maximum values of the three RGB color components are alsocollected for color correction.

The second largest section of the chip is consumed by a DRAM 210 used tohold the image. To store the 1,500×1,000 image from the sensor withoutcompression, 1.5 Mbytes of DRAM 210 are required. This equals 12 Mbits,or slightly less than 5% of a 256 Mbit DRAM. The DRAM technology assumedis of the 256 Mbit generation implemented using 0.18 μm CMOS.

Using a standard 8F cell, the area taken by the memory array is 3.11mm². When row decoders, column sensors, redundancy, and other factorsare taken into account, the DRAM requires around 4 mm².

This DRAM 210 can be mostly eliminated if analog storage of the imagesignal can be accurately maintained in the CMOS imaging array for thetwo seconds required to print the photo. However, digital storage of theimage is preferable as it is maintained without degradation, isinsensitive to noise, and allows copies of the photo to be printedconsiderably later.

A DRAM address generator 211 provides the write and read addresses tothe DRAM 210. Under normal operation, the write address is determined bythe order of the data read from the CMOS image sensor 201. This willtypically be a simple raster format. However, the data can be read fromthe sensor 201 in any order, if matching write addresses to the DRAM aregenerated. The read order from the DRAM 210 will normally simply matchthe requirements of a color interpolator and the print head. As thecyan, magenta, and yellow rows of the print head are necessarily offsetby a few pixels to allow space for nozzle actuators, the colors are notread from the DRAM simultaneously. However, there is plenty of time toread all of the data from the DRAM many times during the printingprocess. This capability is used to eliminate the need for FIFOs in theprint head interface, thereby saving chip area. All three RGB imagecomponents can be read from the DRAM each time color data is required.This allows a color space converter to provide a more sophisticatedconversion than a simple linear RGB to CMY conversion.

Also, to allow two dimensional filtering of the image data withoutrequiring line buffers, data is re-read from the DRAM array.

The address generator may also implement image effects in certain modelsof camera. For example, passport photos are generated by a manipulationof the read addresses to the DRAM. Also, image framing effects (wherethe central image is reduced), image warps, and kaleidoscopic effectscan all be generated by manipulating the read addresses of the DRAM.

While the address generator 211 may be implemented with substantialcomplexity if effects are built into the standard chip, the chip arearequired for the address generator is small, as it consists only ofaddress counters and a moderate amount of random logic.

A color interpolator 214 converts the interleaved pattern of red,2×green, and blue pixels into RGB pixels. It consists of three 8 bitadders and associated registers. The divisions are by either 2 (forgreen) or 4 (for red and blue) so they can be implemented as fixedshifts in the output connections of the adders.

A convolver 215 is provided as a sharpening filter which applies a smallconvolution kernel (5×5) to the red, green, and blue planes of theimage. The convolution kernel for the green plane is different from thatof the red and blue planes, as green has twice as many samples. Thesharpening filter has five functions:

-   -   to improve the color interpolation from the linear interpolation        provided by the color interpolator, to a close approximation of        a sinc interpolation;    -   to compensate for the image ‘softening’ which occurs during        digitisation;    -   to adjust the image sharpness to match average consumer        preferences, which are typically for the image to be slightly        sharper than reality. As the single use camera is intended as a        consumer product, and not a professional photographic products,        the processing can match the most popular settings, rather than        the most accurate;    -   to suppress the sharpening of high frequency (individual pixel)        noise. The function is similar to the ‘unsharp mask’ process;        and    -   to antialias Image Warping.

These functions are all combined into a single convolution matrix. Asthe pixel rate is low (less than 1 Mpixel per second) the total numberof multiplies required for the three color channels is 56 millionmultiplies per second. This can be provided by a single multiplier.Fifty bytes of coefficient ROM are also required.

A color ALU 113 combines the functions of color compensation and colorspace conversion into the one matrix multiplication, which is applied toevery pixel of the frame. As with sharpening, the color correctionshould match the most popular settings, rather than the most accurate.

A color compensation circuit of the color ALU provides compensation forthe lighting of the photo. The vast majority of photographs aresubstantially improved by a simple color compensation, whichindependently normalizes the contrast and brightness of the three colorcomponents.

A color look-up table (CLUT) 212 is provided for each color component.These are three separate 256×8 SRAMs, requiring a total of 6,144 bits.The CLUTs are used as part of the color correction process. They arealso used for color special effects, such as stochastically selected“wild color” effects.

A color space conversion system of the color ALU converts from the RGBcolor space of the image sensor to the CMY color space of the printer.The simplest conversion is a 1's complement of the RGB data. However,this simple conversion assumes perfect linearity of both color spaces,and perfect dye spectra for both the color filters of the image sensor,and the ink dyes. At the other extreme is a tri-linear interpolation ofa sampled three dimensional arbitrary transform table. This caneffectively match any non-linearity or differences in either colorspace. Such a system is usually necessary to obtain good color spaceconversion when the print engine is a color electrophotographic

However, since the non-linearity of a halftoned ink jet output is verysmall, a simpler system can be used. A simple matrix multiply canprovide excellent results. This requires nine multiplies and sixadditions per contone pixel. However, since the contone pixel rate islow (less than 1 Mpixel/sec) these operations can share a singlemultiplier and adder. The multiplier and adder are used in a color ALUwhich is shared with the color compensation function.

Digital halftoning can be performed as a dispersed dot ordered ditherusing a stochastic optimized dither cell. A halftone matrix ROM 216 isprovided for storing dither cell coefficients. A dither cell size of32×32 is adequate to ensure that the cell repeat cycle is not visible.The three colors—cyan, magenta, and yellow—are all dithered using thesame cell, to ensure maximum co-positioning of the ink dots. Thisminimizes ‘muddying’ of the mid-tones which results from bleed of dyesfrom one dot to adjacent dots while still wet. The total ROM sizerequired is 1 KByte, as the one ROM is shared by the halftoning unitsfor each of the three colors.

The digital halftoning used is dispersed dot ordered dither withstochastic optimized dither matrix. While dithering does not produce animage quite as ‘sharp’ as error diffusion, it does produce a moreaccurate image with fewer artifacts. The image sharpening produced byerror diffusion is artificial, and less controllable and accurate than‘unsharp mask’ filtering performed in the contone domain. The high printresolution (1,600 dpi×1,600 dpi) results in excellent quality when usinga well formed stochastic dither matrix.

Digital halftoning is performed by a digital halftoning unit 217 using asimple comparison between the contone information from the DRAM 210 andthe contents of the dither matrix 216. During the halftone process, theresolution of the image is changed from the 250 dpi of the capturedcontone image to the 1,600 dpi of the printed image. Each contone pixelis converted to an average of 40.96 halftone dots.

The ICP incorporates a 16 bit microcontroller CPU core 219 to run themiscellaneous camera functions, such as reading the buttons, controllingthe motor and solenoids, setting up the hardware, and authenticating therefill station. The processing power required by the CPU is very modest,and a wide variety of processor cores can be used. As the entire CPUprogram is run from a small ROM 220 program compatibility between cameraversions is not important, as no external programs are run. A 2 Mbit(256 Kbyte) program and data ROM 220 is included on chip. Most of thisROM space is allocated to data for outline graphics and fonts forspecialty cameras. The program requirements are minor. The single mostcomplex task is the encrypted authentication of the refill station. TheROM requires a single transistor per bit.

A Flash memory 221 may be used to store a 128 bit authentication code.This provides higher security than storage of the authentication code inROM, as reverse engineering can be made essentially impossible. TheFlash memory is completely covered by third level metal, making the dataimpossible to extract using scanning probe microscopes or electronbeams. The authentication code is stored in the chip when manufactured.At least two other Flash bits are required for the authenticationprocess: a bit which locks out reprogramming of the authentication code,and a bit which indicates that the camera has been refilled by anauthenticated refill station. The flash memory can also be used to storeFPN correction data for the imaging array. Additionally, a phase lockedloop rescaling parameter is stored for scaling the clocking cycle to anappropriate correct time. The clock frequency does not require crystalaccuracy since no date functions are provided. To eliminate the cost ofa crystal, an on chip oscillator with a phase locked loop 224 is used.As the frequency of an on-chip oscillator is highly variable from chipto chip, the frequency ratio of the oscillator to the PLL is digitallytrimmed during initial testing. The value is stored in Flash memory 221.This allows the clock PLL to control the ink-jet heater pulse width withsufficient accuracy.

A scratchpad SRAM is a small static RAM 222 with a 6T cell. Thescratchpad provided temporary memory for the 16 bit CPU. 1024 bytes isadequate.

A print head interface 223 formats the data correctly for the printhead. The print head interface also provides all of the timing signalsrequired by the print head. These timing signals may vary depending upontemperature, the number of dots printed simultaneously, the print mediumin the print roll, and the dye density of the ink in the print roll.

The following is a table of external connections to the print headinterface:

Connection Function Pins DataBits[0–7] Independent serial data to theeight 8 segments of the printhead BitClock Main data clock for the printhead 1 ColorEnable[0–2] Independent enable signals for the CMY 3actuators, allowing different pulse times for each color.BankEnable[0–1] Allows either simultaneous or interleaved 2 actuation oftwo banks of nozzles. This allows two different print speed/powerconsumption tradeoffs NozzleSelect[0–4] Selects one of 32 banks ofnozzles for 5 simultaneous actuation ParallelXferClock Loads theparallel transfer register with 1 the data from the shift registersTotal 20

The printhead utilized is composed of eight identical segments, each1.25 cm long. There is no connection between the segments on the printhead chip. Any connections required are made in the external TAB bondingfilm, which is double sided. The division into eight identical segmentsis to simplify lithography using wafer steppers. The segment width of1.25 cm fits easily into a stepper field. As the printhead chip is longand narrow (10 cm×0.3 mm), the stepper field contains a single segmentof 32 print head chips. The stepper field is therefore 1.25 cm×1.6 cm.An average of four complete print heads are patterned in each waferstep.

A single BitClock output line connects to all 8 segments on theprinthead. The 8 DataBits lines lead one to each segment, and areclocked into the 8 segments on the print head simultaneously (on aBitClock pulse). For example, dot 0 is transferred to segments₀, dot 750is transferred to segment₁, dot 1500 to segment₂ etc simultaneously.

The ParallelXferClock is connected to each of the 8 segments on theprinthead, so that on a single pulse, all segments transfer their bitsat the same time.

The NozzleSelect, BankEnable and ColorEnable lines are connected to eachof the 8 segments, allowing the print head interface to independentlycontrol the duration of the cyan, magenta, and yellow nozzle energizingpulses. Registers in the Print Head Interface allow the accuratespecification of the pulse duration between 0 and 6 ms, with a typicalduration of 2 ms to 3 ms.

A parallel interface 125 connects the ICP to individual staticelectrical signals. The CPU is able to control each of these connectionsas memory mapped I/O via a low speed bus.

The following is a table of connections to the parallel interface:

Connection Direction Pins Paper transport stepper motor Output 4 Cappingsolenoid Output 1 Copy LED Output 1 Photo button Input 1 Copy buttonInput 1 Total 8

Seven high current drive transistors e.g. 227 are required. Four are forthe four phases of the main stepper motor two are for the guillotinemotor, and the remaining transistor is to drive the capping solenoid.These transistors are allocated 20,000 square microns (600,000 F) each.As the transistors are driving highly inductive loads, they must eitherbe turned off slowly, or be provided with a high level of back EMFprotection. If adequate back EMF protection cannot be provided using thechip process chosen, then external discrete transistors should be used.The transistors are never driven at the same time as the image sensor isused. This is to avoid voltage fluctuations and hot spots affecting theimage quality. Further, the transistors are located as far away from thesensor as possible.

A standard JTAG (Joint Test Action Group) interface 228 is included inthe ICP for testing purposes and for interrogation by the refillstation. Due to the complexity of the chip, a variety of testingtechniques are required, including BIST (Built In Self Test) andfunctional block isolation. An overhead of 10% in chip area is assumedfor chip testing circuitry for the random logic portions. The overheadfor the large arrays the image sensor and the DRAM is smaller.

The JTAG interface is also used for authentication of the refillstation. This is included to ensure that the cameras are only refilledwith quality paper and ink at a properly constructed refill station,thus preventing inferior quality refills from occurring. The camera mustauthenticate the refill station, rather than vice versa. The secureprotocol is communicated to the refill station during the automated testprocedure. Contact is made to four gold plated spots on the ICP/printhead TAB by the refill station as the new ink is injected into the printhead.

FIG. 16 illustrates a rear view of the next step in the constructionprocess whilst FIG. 17 illustrates a front view.

Turning now to FIG. 16, the assembly of the camera system proceeds viafirst assembling the ink supply mechanism 40. The flex PCB isinterconnected with batteries 84, only one of which is shown, which areinserted in the middle portion of a print roll 85 which is wrappedaround a plastic former 86. An end cap 89 is provided at the other endof the print roll 85 so as to fasten the print roll and batteries firmlyto the ink supply mechanism.

The solenoid coil is interconnected (not shown) to interconnects 97, 98(FIG. 8) which include leaf spring ends for interconnection withelectrical contacts on the Flex PCB so as to provide for electricalcontrol of the solenoid.

Turning now to FIGS. 17-19 the next step in the construction process isthe insertion of the relevant gear trains into the side of the camerachassis. FIG. 17 illustrates a front view, FIG. 18 illustrates a rearview and FIG. 19 also illustrates a rear view. The first gear traincomprising gear wheels 22, 23 is utilized for driving the guillotineblade with the gear wheel 23 engaging the gear wheel 65 of FIG. 8. Thesecond gear train comprising gear wheels 24, 25 and 26 engage one end ofthe print roller 61 of FIG. 8. As best indicated in FIG. 18, the gearwheels mate with corresponding pins on the surface of the chassis withthe gear wheel 26 being snap fitted into corresponding mating hole 27.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 20, the assembled platten unit 60 is theninserted between the print roll 85 and aluminum cutting blade 43.

Turning now to FIG. 21, by way of illumination, there is illustrated theelectrically interactive components of the camera system. As notedpreviously, the components are based around a Flex PCB board and includea TAB film 58 which interconnects the printhead 102 with the imagesensor and processing chip 48. Power is supplied by two AA typebatteries 83, 84 and a paper drive stepper motor 16 is provided inaddition to a rotary guillotine motor 17.

An optical element 31 is provided for snapping into a top portion of thechassis 12. The optical element 31 includes portions defining an opticalview finder 32, 33 which are slotted into mating portions 35, 36 in viewfinder channel 37. Also provided in the optical element 31 is a lensingsystem 38 for magnification of the prints left number in addition to anoptical pipe element 39 for piping light from the LED 5 for externaldisplay.

Turning next to FIG. 22, the assembled unit 90 is then inserted into afront outer case 91 which includes button 4 for activation of printouts.

Turning now to FIG. 23, next, the unit 90 is provided with a snap-onback cover 93 which includes a slot 6 and copy print button 7. A wrapperlabel containing instructions and advertising (not shown) is thenwrapped around the outer surface of the camera system and pinch clampedto the cover by means of clamp strip 96 which can comprise a flexibleplastic or rubber strip.

Subsequently, the preferred embodiment is ready for use as a one timeuse camera system that provides for instant output images on demand. Itwill be evident that the preferred embodiment further provides for arefillable camera system. A used camera can be collected and its outerplastic cases removed and recycled. A new paper roll and batteries canbe added and the ink cartridge refilled. A series of automatic testroutines can then be carried out to ensure that the printer is properlyoperational. Further, in order to ensure only authorized refills areconducted so as to enhance quality, routines in the on-chip program ROMcan be executed such that the camera authenticates the refilling stationusing a secure protocol. Upon authentication, the camera can reset aninternal paper count and an external case can be fitted on the camerasystem with a new outer label. Subsequent packing and shipping can thentake place.

It will be further readily evident to those skilled in the art that theprogram ROM can be modified so as to allow for a variety of digitalprocessing routines. In addition to the digitally enhanced photographsoptimized for mainstream consumer preferences, various other models canreadily be provided through mere re-programming of the program ROM. Forexample, a sepia classic old fashion style output can be providedthrough a remapping of the color mapping function. A further alternativeis to provide for black and white outputs again through a suitable colorremapping algorithm. Minimum color can also be provided to add a touchof color to black and white prints to produce the effect that wastraditionally used to colorize black and white photos. Further, passportphoto output can be provided through, suitable address remappings withinthe address generators. Further, edge filters can be utilized as isknown in the field of image processing to produce sketched art styles.Further, classic wedding borders and designs can be placed around anoutput image in addition to the provision of relevant clip arts. Forexample, a wedding style camera might be provided. Further, a panoramicmode can be provided so as to output the well known panoramic format ofimages. Further, a postcard style output can be provided through theprinting of postcards including postage on the back of a print rollsurface. Further, cliparts can be provided for special events such asHalloween, Christmas etc. Further, kaleidoscopic effects can be providedthrough address remappings and wild color effects can be providedthrough remapping of the color lookup table. Many other forms of specialevent cameras can be provided for example, cameras dedicated to theOlympics, movie tie-ins, advertising and other special events.

The operational mode of the camera can be programmed so that upon thedepressing of the take photo a first image is sampled by the sensorarray to determine irrelevant parameters. Next a second image is againcaptured which is utilized for the output. The captured image is thenmanipulated in accordance with any special requirements before beinginitially output on the paper roll. The LED light is then activated fora predetermined time during which the DRAM is refreshed so as to retainthe image. If the print copy button is depressed during thispredetermined time interval, a further copy of the photo is output.After the predetermined time interval where no use of the camera hasoccurred, the onboard CPU shuts down all power to the camera systemuntil such time as the take button is again activated. In this way,substantial power savings can be realized.

Ink Jet Technologies

The embodiments of the invention use an ink jet printer type device. Ofcourse many different devices could be used. However presently popularink jet printing technologies are unlikely to be suitable.

The most significant problem with thermal inkjet is power consumption.This is approximately 100 times that required for high speed, and stemsfrom the energy-inefficient means of drop ejection. This involves therapid boiling of water to produce a vapor bubble which expels the ink.Water has a very high heat capacity, and must be superheated in thermalink-jet applications. This leads to an efficiency of around 0.02%, fromelectricity input to drop momentum (and increased surface area) out.

The most significant problem with piezoelectric inkjet is size and cost.Piezoelectric crystals have a very small deflection at reasonable drivevoltages, and therefore require a large area for each nozzle. Also, eachpiezoelectric actuator must be connected to its drive circuit on aseparate substrate. This is not a significant problem at the currentlimit of around 300 nozzles per print head, but is a major impediment tothe fabrication of pagewidth print heads with 19,200 nozzles.

Ideally, the inkjet technologies used meet the stringent requirements ofin-camera digital color printing and other high quality, high speed, lowcost printing applications. To meet the requirements of digitalphotography, new inkjet technologies have been created. The targetfeatures include:

low power (less than 10 Watts)

high resolution capability (1,600 dpi or more)

photographic quality output

low manufacturing cost

small size (pagewidth times minimum cross section)

high speed (<2 seconds per page).

All of these features can be met or exceeded by the inkjet systemsdescribed below with differing levels of difficulty forty-five differentinkjet technologies have been developed by the Assignee to give a widerange of choices for high volume manufacture. These technologies formpart of separate applications assigned to the present Assignee as setout in the table below.

The inkjet designs shown here are suitable for a wide range of digitalprinting systems, from battery powered one-time use digital cameras,through to desktop and network printers, and through to commercialprinting systems

For ease of manufacture using standard process equipment, the printheadis designed to be a monolithic 0.5 micron CMOS chip with MEMS postprocessing. For color photographic applications, the print head is 100mm long, with a width which depends upon the inkjet type. The smallestprint head designed is IJ38, which is 0.35 mm wide, giving a chip areaof 35 square mm. The print heads each contain 19,200 nozzles plus dataand control circuitry.

Ink is supplied to the back of the print head by injection moldedplastic ink channels. The molding requires 50 micron features, which canbe created using a lithographically micromachined insert in a standardinjection molding tool. Ink flows through holes etched through the waferto the nozzle chambers fabricated on the front surface of the wafer. Theprint head is connected to the camera circuitry by tape automatedbonding.

Cross-Referenced Applications

The following table is a guide to cross-referenced patent applicationsfiled concurrently herewith and discussed hereinafter with the referencebeing utilized in subsequent tables when referring to a particular case:

Docket Ref- No. erence Title IJ01US IJ01 Radiant Plunger Ink Jet PrinterIJ02US IJ02 Electrostatic Ink Jet Printer IJ03US IJ03 PlanarThermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet IJ04US IJ04 Stacked ElectrostaticInk Jet Printer IJ05US IJ05 Reverse Spring Lever Ink Jet Printer IJ06USIJ06 Paddle Type Ink Jet Printer IJ07US IJ07 Permanent MagnetElectromagnetic Ink Jet Printer IJ08US IJ08 Planar Swing GrillElectromagnetic Ink Jet Printer IJ09US IJ09 Pump Action Refill Ink JetPrinter IJ10US IJ10 Pulsed Magnetic Field Ink Jet Printer IJ11US IJ11Two Plate Reverse Firing Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer IJ12US IJ12Linear Stepper Actuator Ink Jet Printer IJ13US IJ13 Gear Driven ShutterInk Jet Printer IJ14US IJ14 Tapered Magnetic Pole Electromagnetic InkJet Printer IJ15US IJ15 Linear Spring Electromagnetic Grill Ink JetPrinter IJ16US IJ16 Lorenz Diaphragm Electromagnetic Ink Jet PrinterIJ17US IJ17 PTFE Surface Shooting Shuttered Oscillating Pressure Ink JetPrinter IJ18US IJ18 Buckle Grip Oscillating Pressure Ink Jet PrinterIJ19US IJ19 Shutter Based Ink Jet Printer IJ20US IJ20 Curling CalyxThermoelastic Ink Jet Printer IJ21US IJ21 Thermal Actuated Ink JetPrinter IJ22US IJ22 Iris Motion Ink Jet Printer IJ23US IJ23 DirectFiring Thermal Bend Actuator Ink Jet Printer IJ24US IJ24 Conductive PTFEBen Activator Vented Ink Jet Printer IJ25US IJ25 Magnetostrictive InkJet Printer IJ26US IJ26 Shape Memory Alloy Ink Jet Printer IJ27US IJ27Buckle Plate Ink Jet Printer IJ28US IJ28 Thermal Elastic Rotary ImpellerInk Jet Printer IJ29US IJ29 Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet PrinterIJ30US IJ30 Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Using PTFE and Corrugated CopperInk Jet Printer IJ31US IJ31 Bend Actuator Direct Ink Supply Ink JetPrinter IJ32US IJ32 A High Young's Modulus Thermoelastic Ink Jet PrinterIJ33US IJ33 Thermally actuated slotted chamber wall ink jet printerIJ34US IJ34 Ink Jet Printer having a thermal actuator comprising anexternal coiled spring IJ35US IJ35 Trough Container Ink Jet PrinterIJ36US IJ36 Dual Chamber Single Vertical Actuator Ink Jet IJ37US IJ37Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Fulcrum Actuator Ink Jet IJ38US IJ38 DualNozzle Single Horizontal Actuator Ink Jet IJ39US IJ39 A single bendactuator cupped paddle ink jet printing device IJ40US IJ40 A thermallyactuated ink jet printer having a series of thermal actuator unitsIJ41US IJ41 A thermally actuated ink jet printer including a taperedheater element IJ42US IJ42 Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink JetIJ43US IJ43 Inverted Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink Jet IJ44USIJ44 Surface bend actuator vented ink supply ink jet printer IJ45US IJ45Coil Acutuated Magnetic Plate Ink Jet PrinterTables of Drop-on-Demand Inkjets

Eleven important characteristics of the fundamental operation ofindividual inkjet nozzles have been identified. These characteristicsare largely orthogonal, and so can be elucidated as an elevendimensional matrix. Most of the eleven axes of this matrix includeentries developed by the present assignee.

The following tables form the axes of an eleven dimensional table ofinkjet types.

Actuator mechanism (18 types) Basic operation mode (7 types) Auxiliarymechanism (8 types) Actuator amplification or modification method (17types) Actuator motion (19 types) Nozzle refill method (4 types) Methodof restricting back-flow through inlet (10 types) Nozzle clearing method(9 types) Nozzle plate construction (9 types) Drop ejection direction (5types) Ink type (7 types)

The complete eleven dimensional table represented by these axes contains36.9 billion possible configurations of inkjet nozzle. While not all ofthe possible combinations result in a viable inkjet technology, manymillion configurations are viable. It is clearly impractical toelucidate all of the possible configurations. Instead, certain inkjettypes have been investigated in detail. These are designated IJ01 toIJ45 above.

Other inkjet configurations can readily be derived from these forty-fiveexamples by substituting alternative configurations along one or more ofthe eleven axes. Most of the IJ01 to IJ45 examples can be made intoinkjet print heads with characteristics superior to any currentlyavailable inkjet technology.

Where there are prior art examples known to the inventor, one or more ofthese examples are listed in the examples column of the tables below.The IJ01 to IJ45 series are also listed in the examples column. In somecases, a printer may be listed more than once in a table, where itshares characteristics with more than one entry.

Suitable applications include: Home printers, Office network printers,Short run digital printers, Commercial print systems, Fabric printers,Pocket printers, Internet WWW printers, Video printers, Medical imaging,Wide format printers, Notebook PC printers, Fax machines, Industrialprinting systems, Photocopiers, Photographic minilabs etc.

The information associated with the aforementioned eleven dimensionalmatrix are set out in the following tables.

ACTUATOR MECHANISM (APPLIED ONLY TO SELECTED INK DROPS) ActuatorMechanism Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples Thermal Anelectrothermal heater heats the Large force generated High power CanonBubblejet bubble ink to above boiling point, Simple construction Inkcarrier limited to water 1979 Endo et al GB transferring significantheat to the No moving parts Low efficiency patent 2,007,162 aqueous ink.A bubble nucleates Fast operation High temperatures required Xeroxheater-in-pit and quickly forms, expelling the Small chip area requiredHigh mechanical stress 1990 Hawkins et al ink. for actuator Unusualmaterials required U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,181 The efficiency of the processis Large drive transistors Hewlett-Packard low, with typically less thanCavitation causes actuator failure TIJ 1982 Vaught et 0.05% of theelectrical energy Kogation reduces bubble formation al U.S. Pat. No.being transformed into kinetic Large print heads are difficult to4,490,728 energy of the drop. fabricate Piezoelectric A piezoelectriccrystal such as Low power consumption Very large area required foractuator Kyser et al U.S. Pat. No. lead lanthanum zirconate (PZT) isMany ink types can be Difficult to integrate with electronics 3,946,398electrically activated, and either used High voltage drive transistorsZoltan U.S. Pat. No. expands, shears, or bends to apply Fast operationrequired 3,683,212 pressure to the ink, ejecting drops. High efficiencyFull pagewidth print heads 1973 Stemme impractical due to actuator sizeU.S. Pat. No. 3,747,120 Requires electrical poling in high field EpsonStylus strengths during manufacture Tektronix IJ04 Electrostrictive Anelectric field is used to Low power consumption Low maximum strain(approx. 0.01%) Seiko Epson, Usui activate electrostriction in relaxorMany ink types can be Large area required for actuator due et all JP253401/96 materials such as lead lanthanum used to low strain IJ04zirconate titanate (PLZT) or lead Low thermal expansion Response speedis marginal (~10 μs) magnesium niobate (PMN). Electric field strengthHigh voltage drive transistors required (approx. 3.5 V/μm) required canbe generated Full pagewidth print heads without difficulty impracticaldue to actuator size Does not require electrical poling Ferroelectric Anelectric field is used to induce Low power consumption Difficult tointegrate with electronics IJ04 a phase transition between the Many inktypes can be Unusual materials such as PLZSnT antiferroelectric (AFE)and used are required ferroelectric (FE) phase. Fast operation (<1 μs)Actuators require a large area Perovskite materials such as tinRelatively high modified lead lanthanum longitudinal strain zirconatetitanate (PLZSnT) High efficiency exhibit large strains of up to 1%Electric field strength of associated with the AFE to FE around 3 V/μmcan be phase transition. readily provided Electrostatic Conductiveplates are separated Low power consumption Difficult to operateelectrostatic IJ02, IJ04 plates by a compressible or fluid Many inktypes can be devices in an aqueous environment dielectric (usually air).Upon used The electrostatic actuator will application of a voltage, theplates Fast operation normally need to be separated from attract eachother and displace the ink ink, causing drop ejection. The Very largearea required to achieve conductive plates may be in a high forces combor honeycomb structure, or High voltage drive transistors may be stackedto increase the surface required area and therefore the force. Fullpagewidth print heads are not competitive due to actuator sizeElectrostatic A strong electric field is applied Low current consumptionHigh voltage required 1989 Saito et al, pull on ink to the ink,whereupon electrostatic Low temperature May be damaged by sparks due toair U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,068 attraction accelerates the ink breakdown1989 Miura et al, towards the print medium. Required field strengthincreases as U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,954 the drop size decreases Tone-jetHigh voltage drive transistors required Electrostatic field attractsdust Permanent An electromagnet directly attracts Low power consumptionComplex fabrication IJ07, IJ10 magnet a permanent magnet, displacingMany ink types can be Permanent magnetic material such aselectromagnetic ink and causing drop ejection. used Neodymium Iron Boron(NdFeB) Rare earth magnets with a field Fast operation required.strength around 1 Tesla can be High efficiency High local currentsrequired used. Examples are: Samarium Easy extension from single Coppermetalization should be used Cobalt (SaCo) and magnetic nozzles topagewidth print for long electromigration lifetime and materials in theneodymium iron heads low resistivity boron family (NdFeB, Pigmented inksare usually infeasible NdDyFeBNb, NdDyFeB, etc) Operating temperaturelimited to the Curie temperature (around 540 K) Soft magnetic A solenoidinduced a magnetic Low power consumption Complex fabrication IJ01, IJ05,IJ08, core field in a soft magnetic core or Many ink types can beMaterials not usually present in a IJ10 electromagnetic yoke fabricatedfrom a ferrous used CMOS fab such as NiFe, CoNiFe, or IJ12, IJ14, IJ15,material such as electroplated iron Fast operation CoFe are requiredIJ17 alloys such as CoNiFe [1], CoFe, High efficiency High localcurrents required or NiFe alloys. Typically, the soft Easy extensionfrom single Copper metalization should be used magnetic material is intwo parts, nozzles to pagewidth print for long electromigration lifetimeand which are normally held apart by heads low resistivity a spring.When the solenoid is Electroplating is required actuated, the two partsattract, High saturation flux density is displacing the ink. required(2.0–2.1 T is achievable with CoNiFe [1]) Magnetic The Lorenz forceacting on a Low power consumption Force acts as a twisting motion IJ06,IJ11, IJ13, Lorenz force current carrying wire in a Many ink types canbe Typically, only a quarter of the IJ16 magnetic field is utilized.used solenoid length provides force in a This allows the magnetic fieldto Fast operation useful direction be supplied externally to the printHigh efficiency High local currents required head, for example with rareearth Easy extension from single Copper metalization should be usedpermanent magnets. nozzles to pagewidth print for long electromigrationlifetime and Only the current carrying wire heads low resistivity needbe fabricated on the print- Pigmented inks are usually infeasible head,simplifying materials requirements. Magneto- The actuator uses the giantMany ink types can be Force acts as a twisting motion Fischenbeck,striction magnetostrictive effect of used Unusual materials such asTerfenol-D U.S. Pat. No. 4,032,929 materials such as Terfenol-D (an Fastoperation are required IJ25 alloy of terbium, dysprosium and Easyextension from single High local currents required iron developed at theNaval nozzles to pagewidth print Copper metalization should be usedOrdnance Laboratory, hence Ter- heads for long electromigration lifetimeand Fe-NOL). For best efficiency, the High force is available lowresistivity actuator should be pre-stressed to Pre-stressing may berequired approx. 8 MPa. Surface Ink under positive pressure is held Lowpower consumption Requires supplementary force to Silverbrook, EPtension in a nozzle by surface tension. Simple construction effect dropseparation 0771 658 A2 and reduction The surface tension of the ink isNo unusual materials Requires special ink surfactants related patentreduced below the bubble required in fabrication Speed may be limited bysurfactant applications threshold, causing the ink to High efficiencyproperties egress from the nozzle. Easy extension from single nozzles topagewidth print heads Viscosity The ink viscosity is locally Simpleconstruction Requires supplementary force to Silverbrook, EP reductionreduced to select which drops are No unusual materials effect dropseparation 0771 658 A2 and to be ejected. A viscosity required infabrication Requires special ink viscosity related patent reduction canbe achieved Easy extension from single properties applicationselectrothermally with most inks, nozzles to pagewidth print High speedis difficult to achieve but special inks can be engineered headsRequires oscillating ink pressure for a 100:1 viscosity reduction. Ahigh temperature difference (typically 80 degrees) is required AcousticAn acoustic wave is generated and Can operate without a Complex drivecircuitry 1993 Hadimioglu et focussed upon the drop ejection nozzleplate Complex fabrication al, EUP 550,192 region. Low efficiency 1993Elrod et al, Poor control of drop position EUP 572,220 Poor control ofdrop volume Thermoelastic An actuator which relies upon Low powerconsumption Efficient aqueous operation requires a IJ03, IJ09, IJ17,bend actuator differential thermal expansion Many ink types can bethermal insulator on the hot side IJ18 upon Joule heating is used. usedCorrosion prevention can be difficult IJ19, IJ20, IJ21, Simple planarfabrication Pigmented inks may be infeasible, as IJ22 Small chip arearequired pigment particles may jam the bend IJ23, IJ24, IJ27, for eachactuator actuator IJ28 Fast operation IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, High efficiencyIJ32 CMOS compatible IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, voltages and currents IJ36Standard MEMS processes IJ37, IJ38, IJ39, can be used IJ40 Easyextension from single IJ41 nozzles to pagewidth print heads High CTE Amaterial with a very high High force can be Requires special material(e.g. PTFE) IJ09, IJ17, IJ18, thermoelastic coefficient of thermalexpansion generated Requires a PTFE deposition process, IJ20 actuator(CTE) such as PTFE is a candidate for which is not yet standard in ULSIfabs IJ21, IJ22, IJ23, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is low dielectricconstant PTFE deposition cannot be followed IJ24 used. As high CTEmaterials are insulation in ULSI with high temperature (above 350° C.)IJ27, IJ28, IJ29, usually non-conductive, a heater Very low powerprocessing IJ30 fabricated from a conductive consumption Pigmented inksmay be infeasible, as IJ31, IJ42, IJ43, material is incorporated. A 50μm Many ink types can be pigment particles may jam the bend IJ44 longPTFE bend actuator with used actuator polysilicon heater and 15 mWSimple planar fabrication power input can provide 180 μN Small chip arearequired force and 10 μm deflection. for each actuator Actuator motionsinclude: Fast operation Bend High efficiency Push CMOS compatible Bucklevoltages and currents Rotate Easy extension from single nozzles topagewidth print heads Conductive A polymer with a high coefficient Highforce can be Requires special materials IJ24 polymer of thermalexpansion (such as generated development (High CTE conductivethermoelastic PTFE) is doped with conducting Very low power polymer)actuator substances to increase its consumption Requires a PTFEdeposition process, conductivity to about 3 orders of Many ink types canbe which is not yet standard in ULSI fabs magnitude below that ofcopper. used PTFE deposition cannot be followed The conducting polymerexpands Simple planar fabrication with high temperature (above 350° C.)when resistively heated. Small chip area required processing Examples ofconducting dopants for each actuator Evaporation and CVD depositioninclude: Fast operation techniques cannot be used Carbon nanotubes Highefficiency Pigmented inks may be infeasible, as Metal fibers CMOScompatible pigment particles may jam the bend Conductive polymers suchas voltages and currents actuator doped polythiophene Easy extensionfrom single Carbon granules nozzles to pagewidth print heads Shapememory A shape memory alloy such as High force is available Fatiguelimits maximum number of IJ26 alloy TiNi (also known as Nitinol —(stresses of hundreds of cycles Nickel Titanium alloy developed MPa) Lowstrain (1%) is required to extend at the Naval Ordnance Large strain isavailable fatigue resistance Laboratory) is thermally switched (morethan 3%) Cycle rate limited by heat removal between its weak martensiticstate High corrosion resistance Requires unusual materials (TiNi) andits high stiffness austenic Simple construction The latent heat oftransformation must state. The shape of the actuator in Easy extensionfrom single be provided its martensitic state is deformed nozzles topagewidth print High current operation relative to the austenic shape.The heads Requires pre-stressing to distort the shape change causesejection of a Low voltage operation martensitic state drop. LinearLinear magnetic actuators include Linear Magnetic actuators Requiresunusual semiconductor IJ12 Magnetic the Linear Induction Actuator can beconstructed with materials such as soft magnetic alloys Actuator (LIA),Linear Permanent Magnet high thrust, long travel, (e.g. CoNiFe [1])Synchronous Actuator (LPMSA), and high efficiency using Some varietiesalso require permanent Linear Reluctance Synchronous planarsemiconductor magnetic materials such as Actuator (LRSA), Linearfabrication techniques Neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) Switched ReluctanceActuator Long actuator travel is Requires complex multi-phase drive(LSRA), and the Linear Stepper available circuitry Actuator (LSA).Medium force is available High current operation Low voltage operation

BASIC OPERATION MODE Operational mode Description AdvantagesDisadvantages Examples Actuator This is the simplest mode of Simpleoperation Drop repetition rate is usually limited Thermal inkjetdirectly operation: the actuator directly No external fields required toless than 10 KHz. However, this is Piezoelectric inkjet pushes inksupplies sufficient kinetic energy Satellite drops can be notfundamental to the method, but is IJ01, IJ02, IJ03, to expel the drop.The drop must avoided if drop velocity is related to the refill methodnormally IJ04 have a sufficient velocity to less than 4 m/s used IJ05,IJ06, IJ07, overcome the surface tension. Can be efficient, All of thedrop kinetic energy must be IJ09 depending upon the provided by theactuator IJ11, IJ12, IJ14, actuator used Satellite drops usually form ifdrop IJ16 velocity is greater than 4.5 m/s IJ20, IJ22, IJ23, IJ24 IJ25,IJ26, IJ27, IJ28 IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, IJ36 IJ37,IJ38, IJ39, IJ40 IJ41, IJ42, IJ43, IJ44 Proximity The drops to beprinted are Very simple print head Requires close proximity between theSilverbrook, EP selected by some manner (e.g. fabrication can be usedprint head and the print media or 0771 658 A2 and thermally inducedsurface tension The drop selection means transfer roller related patentreduction of pressurized ink). does not need to provide May require twoprint heads printing applications Selected drops are separated from theenergy required to alternate rows of the image the ink in the nozzle bycontact separate the drop from the Monolithic color print heads are withthe print medium or a nozzle difficult transfer roller. ElectrostaticThe drops to be printed are Very simple print head Requires very highelectrostatic field Silverbrook, EP pull on ink selected by some manner(e.g. fabrication can be used Electrostatic field for small nozzle 0771658 A2 and thermally induced surface tension The drop selection meanssizes is above air breakdown related patent reduction of pressurizedink). does not need to provide Electrostatic field may attract dustapplications Selected drops are separated from the energy required toTone-Jet the ink in the nozzle by a strong separate the drop from theelectric field. nozzle Magnetic pull on ink The drops to be printed areVery simple print head Requires magnetic ink Silverbrook, EP selected bysome manner (e.g. fabrication can be used Ink colors other than blackare 0771 658 A2 and thermally induced surface tension The drop selectionmeans difficult related patent reduction of pressurized ink). does notneed to provide Requires very high magnetic fields applications Selecteddrops are separated from the energy required to the ink in the nozzle bya strong separate the drop from the magnetic field acting on the nozzlemagnetic ink. Shutter The actuator moves a shutter to High speed (>50KHz) Moving parts are required IJ13, IJ17, IJ21 block ink flow to thenozzle. The operation can be achieved Requires ink pressure modulatorink pressure is pulsed at a due to reduced refill time Friction and wearmust be considered multiple of the drop ejection Drop timing can be veryStiction is possible frequency. accurate The actuator energy can be verylow Shuttered grill The actuator moves a shutter to Actuators with smalltravel Moving parts are required IJ08, IJ15, IJ18, block ink flowthrough a grill to can be used Requires ink pressure modulator IJ19 thenozzle. The shutter movement Actuators with small force Friction andwear must be considered need only be equal to the width of can be usedStiction is possible the grill holes. High speed (>50 KHz) operation canbe achieved Pulsed A pulsed magnetic field attracts Extremely low energyRequires an external pulsed magnetic IJ10 magnetic pull an ‘ink pusher’at the drop operation is possible field on ink pusher ejectionfrequency. An actuator No heat dissipation Requires special materialsfor both the controls a catch, which prevents problems actuator and theink pusher the ink pusher from moving when Complex construction a dropis not to be ejected.

AUXILIARY MECHANISM (APPLIED TO ALL NOZZLES) Auxiliary MechanismDescription Advantages Disadvantages Examples None The actuator directlyfires the ink Simplicity of construction Drop ejection energy must beMost inkjets, drop, and there is no external field Simplicity ofoperation supplied by individual nozzle actuator including or othermechanism required. Small physical size piezoelectric and thermalbubble. IJ01–IJ07, IJ09, IJ11 IJ12, IJ14, IJ20, IJ22 IJ23–IJ45Oscillating ink The ink pressure oscillates, Oscillating ink pressureRequires external ink pressure Silverbrook, EP pressure providing muchof the drop can provide a refill pulse, oscillator 0771 658 A2 and(including ejection energy. The actuator allowing higher operating Inkpressure phase and amplitude related patent acoustic selects which dropsare to be fired speed must be carefully controlled applicationsstimulation) by selectively blocking or The actuators may operateAcoustic reflections in the ink IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, enabling nozzles. Theink pressure with much lower energy chamber must be designed for IJ17oscillation may be achieved by Acoustic lenses can be IJ18, IJ19, IJ21vibrating the print head, or used to focus the sound on preferably by anactuator in the the nozzles ink supply. Media The print head is placedin close Low power Precision assembly required Silverbrook, EP proximityproximity to the print medium. High accuracy Paper fibers may causeproblems 0771 658 A2 and Selected drops protrude from the Simple printhead Cannot print on rough substrates related patent print head furtherthan unselected construction applications drops, and contact the printmedium. The drop soaks into the medium fast enough to cause dropseparation. Transfer roller Drops are printed to a transfer Highaccuracy Bulky Silverbrook, EP roller instead of straight to the Widerange of print Expensive 0771 658 A2 and print medium. A transfer rollersubstrates can be used Complex construction related patent can also beused for proximity Ink can be dried on the applications drop separation.transfer roller Tektronix hot melt piezoelectric inkjet Any of the IJseries Electrostatic An electric field is used to Low power Fieldstrength required for separation Silverbrook, EP accelerate selecteddrops towards Simple print head of small drops is near or above air 0771658 A2 and the print medium. construction breakdown related patentapplications Tone-Jet Direct A magnetic field is used to Low powerRequires magnetic ink Silverbrook, EP magnetic field accelerate selecteddrops of Simple print head Requires strong magnetic field 0771 658 A2and magnetic ink towards the print construction related patent medium.applications Cross The print head is placed in a Does not requiremagnetic Requires external magnet IJ06, IJ16 magnetic field constantmagnetic field. The materials to be integrated Current densities may behigh, Lorenz force in a current carrying in the print head resulting inelectromigration problems wire is used to move the actuator.manufacturing process Pulsed A pulsed magnetic field is used to Very lowpower operation Complex print head construction IJ10 magnetic fieldcyclically attract a paddle, which is possible Magnetic materialsrequired in print pushes on the ink. A small Small print head size headactuator moves a catch, which selectively prevents the paddle frommoving.

ACTUATOR AMPLIFICATION OR MODIFICATION METHOD Actuator amplificationDescription Advantages Disadvantages Examples None No actuatormechanical Operational simplicity Many actuator mechanisms have ThermalBubble amplification is used. The actuator insufficient travel, orinsufficient Inkjet directly drives the drop ejection force, toefficiently drive the drop IJ01, IJ02, IJ06, process. ejection processIJ07 IJ16, IJ25, IJ26 Differential An actuator material expands Providesgreater travel in a High stresses are involved Piezoelectric expansionmore on one side than on the reduced print head area Care must be takenthat the materials IJ03, IJ09, bend actuator other. The expansion may beThe bend actuator converts do not delaminate IJ17–IJ24 thermal,piezoelectric, a high force low travel Residual bend resulting from highIJ27, IJ29–IJ39, magnetostrictive, or other actuator mechanism totemperature or high stress during IJ42, mechanism. high travel, lowerforce formation IJ43, IJ44 mechanism. Transient bend A trilayer bendactuator where the Very good temperature High stresses are involvedIJ40, IJ41 actuator two outside layers are identical. stability Caremust be taken that the materials This cancels bend due to ambient Highspeed, as a new drop do not delaminate temperature and residual stress.can be fired before heat The actuator only responds to dissipatestransient heating of one side or the Cancels residual stress of other.formation Actuator stack A series of thin actuators are Increased travelIncreased fabrication complexity Some piezoelectric stacked. This can beappropriate Reduced drive voltage Increased possibility of shortcircuits ink jets where actuators require high due to pinholes IJ04electric field strength, such as electrostatic and piezoelectricactuators. Multiple Multiple smaller actuators are Increases the forceActuator forces may not add linearly, IJ12, IJ13, IJ18, actuators usedsimultaneously to move the available from an actuator reducingefficiency IJ20 ink. Each actuator need provide Multiple actuators canbe IJ22, IJ28, IJ42, only a portion of the force positioned to controlink IJ43 required. flow accurately Linear Spring A linear spring is usedto Matches low travel Requires print head area for the spring IJ15transform a motion with small actuator with higher travel travel andhigh force into a longer requirements travel, lower force motion.Non-contact method of motion transformation Reverse spring The actuatorloads a spring. When Better coupling to the ink Fabrication complexityIJ05, IJ11 the actuator is turned off, the High stress in the springspring releases. This can reverse the force/distance curve of theactuator to make it compatible with the force/time requirements of thedrop ejection. Coiled A bend actuator is coiled to Increases travelGenerally restricted to planar IJ17, IJ21, IJ34, actuator providegreater travel in a reduced Reduces chip area implementations due toextreme IJ35 chip area. Planar implementations fabrication difficulty inother are relatively easy to orientations. fabricate. Flexure bendactuator A bend actuator has a small Simple means of Care must be takennot to exceed the IJ10, IJ19, IJ33 region near the fixture point,increasing travel of a bend elastic limit in the flexure area whichflexes much more readily actuator Stress distribution is very uneventhan the remainder of the actuator. Difficult to accurately model withThe actuator flexing is effectively finite element analysis convertedfrom an even coiling to an angular bend, resulting in greater travel ofthe actuator tip. Gears Gears can be used to increase Low force, lowtravel Moving parts are required IJ13 travel at the expense of duration.actuators can be used Several actuator cycles are required Circulargears, rack and pinion, Can be fabricated using More complex driveelectronics ratchets, and other gearing standard surface MEMS Complexconstruction methods can be used. processes Friction, friction, and wearare possible Catch The actuator controls a small Very low actuatorenergy Complex construction IJ10 catch. The catch either enables or Verysmall actuator size Requires external force disables movement of an inkUnsuitable for pigmented inks pusher that is controlled in a bulkmanner. Buckle plate A buckle plate can be used to Very fast movementMust stay within elastic limits of the S. Hirata et al, “An change aslow actuator into a fast achievable materials for long device lifeInk-jet Head . . . ”, motion. It can also convert a high High stressesinvolved Proc. IEEE MEMS, force, low travel actuator into a Generallyhigh power requirement Feb. 1996, high travel, medium force motion. pp418–423 IJ18, IJ27 Tapered A tapered magnetic pole can Linearizes themagnetic Complex construction IJ14 magnetic pole increase travel at theexpense of force/distance curve force. Lever A lever and fulcrum is usedto Matches low travel High stress around the fulcrum IJ32, IJ36, IJ37transform a motion with small actuator with higher travel travel andhigh force into a requirements motion with longer travel and Fulcrumarea has no linear lower force. The lever can also movement, and can bereverse the direction of travel. used for a fluid seal Rotary Theactuator is connected to a High mechanical Complex construction IJ28impeller rotary impeller. A small angular advantage Unsuitable forpigmented inks deflection of the actuator results The ratio of force totravel in a rotation of the impeller vanes, of the actuator can be whichpush the ink against matched to the nozzle stationary vanes and out ofthe requirements by varying nozzle. the number of impeller vanesAcoustic lens A refractive or diffractive (e.g. No moving parts Largearea required 1993 Hadimioglu et zone plate) acoustic lens is used toOnly relevant for acoustic ink jets al, EUP 550,192 concentrate soundwaves. 1993 Elrod et al, EUP 572,220 Sharp A sharp point is used toSimple construction Difficult to fabricate using standard Tone-jetconductive concentrate an electrostatic field. VLSI processes for asurface ejecting point ink-jet Only relevant for electrostatic ink jets

ACTUATOR MOTION Actuator motion Description Advantages DisadvantagesExamples Volume The volume of the actuator Simple construction in theHigh energy is typically required to Hewlett-Packard expansion changes,pushing the ink in all case of thermal ink jet achieve volume expansion.This leads Thermal Inkjet directions. to thermal stress, cavitation, andCanon Bubblejet kogation in thermal ink jet implementations Linear,normal The actuator moves in a direction Efficient coupling to ink Highfabrication complexity may be IJ01, IJ02, IJ04, to chip surface normalto the print head surface. drops ejected normal to the required toachieve perpendicular IJ07 The nozzle is typically in the line surfacemotion IJ11, IJ14 of movement. Linear, parallel The actuator movesparallel to the Suitable for planar Fabrication complexity IJ12, IJ13,IJ15, to chip surface print head surface. Drop ejection fabricationFriction IJ33, may still be normal to the surface. Stiction IJ34, IJ35,IJ36 Membrane An actuator with a high force but The effective area ofthe Fabrication complexity 1982 Howkins push small area is used to pusha stiff actuator becomes the Actuator size U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,601membrane that is in contact with membrane area Difficulty of integrationin a VLSI the ink. process Rotary The actuator causes the rotation ofRotary levers may be used Device complexity IJ05, IJ08, IJ13, someelement, such a grill or to increase travel May have friction at a pivotpoint IJ28 impeller Small chip area requirements Bend The actuator bendswhen A very small change in Requires the actuator to be made from 1970Kyser et al energized. This may be due to dimensions can be at least twodistinct layers, or to have U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,398 differential thermalexpansion, converted to a large a thermal difference across the 1973Stemme U.S. Pat. No. piezoelectric expansion, motion. actuator 3,747,120magnetostriction, or other form of IJ03, IJ09, IJ10, relativedimensional change. IJ19 IJ23, IJ24, IJ25, IJ29 IJ30, IJ31, IJ33, IJ34IJ35 Swivel The actuator swivels around a Allows operation whereInefficient coupling to the ink motion IJ06 central pivot. This motionis the net linear force on the suitable where there are opposite paddleis zero forces applied to opposite sides of Small chip area the paddle,e.g. Lorenz force. requirements Straighten The actuator is normallybent, and Can be used with shape Requires careful balance of stresses toIJ26, IJ32 straightens when energized. memory alloys where the ensurethat the quiescent bend is austenic phase is planar accurate Double bendThe actuator bends in one One actuator can be Difficult to make thedrops IJ36, IJ37, IJ38 direction when one element is used to power twoejected by both bend directions energized, and bends the other nozzles.identical. way when another element is Reduced chip size. A smallefficiency loss compared energized. Not sensitive to to equivalentsingle bend ambient temperature actuators. Shear Energizing the actuatorcauses a Can increase the Not readily applicable to other 1985 Fishbeckshear motion in the actuator effective travel of actuator mechanismsU.S. Pat. No. 4,584,590 material. piezoelectric actuators Radial Theactuator squeezes an ink Relatively easy to High force required 1970Zoltan constriction reservoir, forcing ink from a fabricate singleInefficient U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,212 constricted nozzle. nozzles fromglass Difficult to integrate with VLSI tubing as macroscopic processesstructures Coil/uncoil A coiled actuator uncoils or coils Easy tofabricate as a Difficult to fabricate for non- IJ17, IJ21, IJ34, moretightly. The motion of the planar VLSI process planar devices IJ35 freeend of the actuator ejects the Small area required, Poor out-of-planestiffness ink. therefore low cost Bow The actuator bows (or buckles) inCan increase the speed Maximum travel is constrained IJ16, IJ18, IJ27the middle when energized. of travel High force required Mechanicallyrigid Push-Pull Two actuators control a shutter. The structure is pinnedNot readily suitable for inkjets IJ18 One actuator pulls the shutter,and at both ends, so has a which directly push the ink the other pushesit. high out-of-plane rigidity Curl inwards A set of actuators curlinwards to Good fluid flow to the Design complexity IJ20, IJ42 reducethe volume of ink that they region behind the enclose. actuatorincreases efficiency Curl outwards A set of actuators curl outwards,Relatively simple Relatively large chip area IJ43 pressurizing ink in achamber construction surrounding the actuators, and expelling ink from anozzle in the chamber. Iris Multiple vanes enclose a volume Highefficiency High fabrication complexity IJ22 of ink. These simultaneouslySmall chip area Not suitable for pigmented inks rotate, reducing thevolume between the vanes. Acoustic The actuator vibrates at a high Theactuator can be Large area required for efficient 1993 vibrationfrequency. physically distant from operation at useful frequenciesHadimioglu et the ink Acoustic coupling and crosstalk al, EUP 550,192Complex drive circuitry 1993 Elrod et al, Poor control of drop volumeand EUP 572,220 position None In various ink jet designs the No movingparts Various other tradeoffs are required to Silverbrook, EP actuatordoes not move. eliminate moving parts 0771 658 A2 and related patentapplications Tone-jet

NOZZLE REFILL METHOD Nozzle refill method Description AdvantagesDisadvantages Examples Surface After the actuator is energized, itFabrication simplicity Low speed Thermal inkjet tension typicallyreturns rapidly to its Operational simplicity Surface tension forcerelatively small Piezoelectric inkjet normal position. This rapid returncompared to actuator force IJ01–IJ07, IJ10–IJ14 sucks in air through thenozzle Long refill time usually dominates the IJ16, IJ20, IJ22–IJ45opening. The ink surface tension total repetition rate at the nozzlethen exerts a small force restoring the meniscus to a minimum area.Shuttered Ink to the nozzle chamber is High speed Requires common inkpressure IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, oscillating ink provided at a pressure thatLow actuator energy, as oscillator IJ17 pressure oscillates at twice thedrop the actuator need only May not be suitable for pigmented IJ18,IJ19, IJ21 ejection frequency. When a drop open or close the shutter,inks is to be ejected, the shutter is instead of ejecting the ink openedfor 3 half cycles: drop drop ejection, actuator return, and refill.Refill actuator After the main actuator has High speed, as the nozzleRequires two independent actuators IJ09 ejected a drop a second (refill)is actively refilled per nozzle actuator is energized. The refillactuator pushes ink into the nozzle chamber. The refill actuator returnsslowly, to prevent its return from emptying the chamber again. Positiveink The ink is held a slight positive High refill rate, therefore aSurface spill must be prevented Silverbrook, EP pressure pressure. Afterthe ink drop is high drop repetition rate is Highly hydrophobic printhead 0771 658 A2 and ejected, the nozzle chamber fills possible surfacesare required related patent quickly as surface tension and inkapplications pressure both operate to refill the Alternative for:nozzle. IJ01–IJ07, IJ10–IJ14 IJ16, IJ20, IJ22–IJ45

METHOD OF RESTRICTING BACK-FLOW THROUGH INLET Inlet back-flowrestriction method Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples Longinlet The ink inlet channel to the nozzle Design simplicity Restrictsrefill rate Thermal inkjet channel chamber is made long and Operationalsimplicity May result in a relatively large chip Piezoelectric inkjetrelatively narrow, relying on Reduces crosstalk area IJ42, IJ43 viscousdrag to reduce inlet back- Only partially effective flow. Positive inkThe ink is under a positive Drop selection and Requires a method (suchas a Silverbrook, EP pressure pressure, so that in the quiescentseparation forces can nozzle rim or effective 0771 658 A2 state some ofthe ink drop already be reduced hydrophobizing, or both) to and relatedprotrudes from the nozzle. Fast refill time prevent flooding of theejection patent This reduces the pressure in the surface of the printhead. applications nozzle chamber which is required Possible to eject acertain volume of ink. operation of the The reduction in chamberfollowing: pressure results in a reduction in IJ01–IJ07, IJ09–IJ12 inkpushed out through the inlet. IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22, IJ23–IJ34,IJ36–IJ41 IJ44 Baffle One or more baffles are placed in The refill rateis not as Design complexity HP Thermal Ink the inlet ink flow. When therestricted as the long May increase fabrication Jet actuator isenergized, the rapid ink inlet method. complexity (e.g. Tektronix hotTektronix movement creates eddies which Reduces crosstalk meltPiezoelectric print heads). piezoelectric ink restrict the flow throughthe inlet. jet The slower refill process is unrestricted, and does notresult in eddies. Flexible flap In this method recently disclosedSignificantly reduces Not applicable to most inkjet Canon restrictsinlet by Canon, the expanding actuator back-flow for edge-configurations (bubble) pushes on a flexible flap shooter thermal inkjet Increased fabrication complexity that restricts the inlet. devicesInelastic deformation of polymer flap results in creep over extended useInlet filter A filter is located between the ink Additional advantageRestricts refill rate IJ04, IJ12, IJ24, inlet and the nozzle chamber.The of ink filtration May result in complex IJ27 filter has a multitudeof small Ink filter may be construction IJ29, IJ30 holes or slots,restricting ink flow. fabricated with no The filter also removesparticles additional process which may block the nozzle. steps Smallinlet The ink inlet channel to the nozzle Design simplicity Restrictsrefill rate IJ02, IJ37, IJ44 compared to chamber has a substantially Mayresult in a relatively large nozzle smaller cross section than that ofchip area the nozzle, resulting in easier ink Only partially effectiveegress out of the nozzle than out of the inlet. Inlet shutter Asecondary actuator controls the Increases speed of the ink- Requiresseparate refill actuator and IJ09 position of a shutter, closing off jetprint head operation drive circuit the ink inlet when the main actuatoris energized. The inlet The method avoids the problem of Back-flowproblem is Requires careful design to minimize IJ01, IJ03, IJ05, islocated behind the inlet back-flow by arranging the eliminated thenegative pressure behind the IJ06 ink-pushing surface ink-pushingsurface of the paddle IJ07, IJ10, IJ11, actuator between the inlet andthe IJ14 nozzle. IJ16, IJ22, IJ23, IJ25 IJ28, IJ31, IJ32, IJ33 IJ34,IJ35, IJ36, IJ39 IJ40, IJ41 Part of the The actuator and a wall of theink Significant reductions in Small increase in fabrication IJ07, IJ20,IJ26, actuator chamber are arranged so that the back-flow can beachieved complexity IJ38 moves to shut off the motion of the actuatorcloses off Compact designs possible inlet the inlet. Nozzle In someconfigurations of ink jet, Ink back-flow problem is None related to inkback-flow on Silverbrook, EP actuator does there is no expansion oreliminated actuation 0771 658 A2 and not result in movement of anactuator which related patent ink back-flow may cause ink back-flowthrough applications the inlet. Valve-jet Tone-jet IJ08, IJ13, IJ15,IJ17 IJ18, IJ19, IJ21

NOZZLE CLEARING METHOD Nozzle Clearing method Description AdvantagesDisadvantages Examples Normal nozzle All of the nozzles are fired Noadded complexity on May not be sufficient to displace Most ink jetsystems firing periodically, before the ink has a the print head driedink IJ01–IJ07, IJ09–IJ12 chance to dry. When not in use IJ14, IJ16,IJ20, the nozzles are sealed (capped) IJ22 against air. IJ23–IJ34,IJ36–IJ45 The nozzle firing is usually performed during a specialclearing cycle, after first moving the print head to a cleaning station.Extra power to ink In systems which heat the ink, but Can be highlyeffective if Requires higher drive voltage for Silverbrook, EP heater donot boil it under normal the heater is adjacent to the clearing 0771 658A2 and situations, nozzle clearing can be nozzle May require largerdrive transistors related patent achieved by over-powering theapplications heater and boiling ink at the nozzle. Rapid The actuator isfired in rapid Does not require extra Effectiveness dependssubstantially May be used with: succession of succession. In some drivecircuits on the print upon the configuration of the inkjet IJ01–IJ07,IJ09–IJ11 actuator configurations, this may cause head nozzle IJ14,IJ16, IJ20, pulses heat build-up at the nozzle which Can be readilycontrolled IJ22 boils the ink, clearing the nozzle. and initiated bydigital IJ23–IJ25, IJ27–IJ34 In other situations, it may cause logicIJ36–IJ45 sufficient vibrations to dislodge clogged nozzles. Extra powerto Where an actuator is not normally A simple solution where Notsuitable where there is a hard May be used with: ink pushing driven tothe limit of its motion, applicable limit to actuator movement IJ03,IJ09, IJ16, actuator nozzle clearing may be assisted by IJ20 providingan enhanced drive IJ23, IJ24, IJ25, signal to the actuator. IJ27 IJ29,IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 IJ39, IJ40, IJ41, IJ42 IJ43, IJ44, IJ45 Acoustic Anultrasonic wave is applied to A high nozzle clearing High implementationcost if system IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, resonance the ink chamber. This wave isof capability can be achieved does not already include an acoustic IJ17an appropriate amplitude and May be implemented at actuator IJ18, IJ19,IJ21 frequency to cause sufficient force very low cost in systems at thenozzle to clear blockages. which already include This is easiest toachieve if the acoustic actuators ultrasonic wave is at a resonantfrequency of the ink cavity. Nozzle A microfabricated plate is pushedCan clear severely clogged Accurate mechanical alignment is Silverbrook,EP clearing plate against the nozzles. The plate has nozzles required0771 658 A2 and a post for every nozzle. The array Moving parts arerequired related patent of posts There is risk of damage to the nozzlesapplications Accurate fabrication is required Ink pressure The pressureof the ink is May be effective where Requires pressure pump or other Maybe used with pulse temporarily increased so that ink other methodscannot be pressure actuator all IJ series ink jets streams from all ofthe nozzles. used Expensive This may be used in conjunction Wasteful ofink with actuator energizing. Print head A flexible ‘blade’ is wipedacross Effective for planar print Difficult to use if print head surfaceis Many ink jet wiper the print head surface. The blade head surfacesnon-planar or very fragile systems is usually fabricated from a Low costRequires mechanical parts flexible polymer, e.g. rubber or Blade canwear out in high volume synthetic elastomer. print systems Separate inkA separate heater is provided at Can be effective where Fabricationcomplexity Can be used with boiling heater the nozzle although thenormal other nozzle clearing many IJ series ink drop e-ection mechanismdoes methods cannot be used jets not require it. The heaters do not Canbe implemented at no require individual drive circuits, additional costin some as many nozzles can be cleared inkjet configurationssimultaneously, and no imaging is required.

NOZZLE PLATE CONSTRUCTION Nozzle plate construction DescriptionAdvantages Disadvantages Examples Electroformed A nozzle plate isseparately Fabrication simplicity High temperatures and pressures areHewlett Packard nickel fabricated from electroformed required to bondnozzle plate Thermal Inkjet nickel, and bonded to the print Minimumthickness constraints head chip. Differential thermal expansion Laserablated Individual nozzle holes are No masks required Each hole must beindividually Canon Bubblejet or drilled ablated by an intense UV laserin Can be quite fast formed 1988 Sercel et al., polymer a nozzle plate,which is typically a Some control over nozzle Special equipment requiredSPIE, Vol. 998 polymer such as polyimide or profile is possible Slowwhere there are many thousands Excimer Beam polysulphone Equipmentrequired is of nozzles per print head Applications, pp. relatively lowcost May produce thin burrs at exit holes 76–83 1993 Watanabe et al.,U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,604 Silicon A separate nozzle plate is High accuracyis attainable Two part construction K. Bean, IEEE micromachinedmicromachined from single High cost Transactions on crystal silicon, andbonded to the Requires precision alignment Electron Devices, print headwafer. Nozzles may be clogged by adhesive Vol. ED-25, No. 10, 1978, pp1185–1195 Xerox 1990 Hawkins et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,181 Glass Fineglass capillaries are drawn No expensive equipment Very small nozzlesizes are difficult 1970 Zoltan U.S. Pat. No. capillaries from glasstubing. This method required to form 3,683,212 has been used for makingSimple to make single Not suited for mass production individual nozzles,but is difficult nozzles to use for bulk manufacturing of print headswith thousands of nozzles. Monolithic, The nozzle plate is deposited asa High accuracy (<1 μm) Requires sacrificial layer under theSilverbrook, EP surface layer using standard VLSI Monolithic nozzleplate to form the nozzle 0771 658 A2 and micromachined depositiontechniques. Nozzles Low cost chamber related patent using VLSI areetched in the nozzle plate Existing processes can be Surface may befragile to the touch applications lithographic using VLSI lithographyand used IJ01, IJ02, IJ04, processes etching. IJ11 IJ12, IJ17, IJ18,IJ20 IJ22, IJ24, I127, IJ28 IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 IJ33, IJ34, IJ36,IJ37 IJ38, IJ39, IJ40, IJ41 IJ42, IJ43, IJ44 Monolithic, The nozzleplate is a buried etch High accuracy (<1 μm) Requires long etch timesIJ03, IJ05, IJ06, etched stop in the wafer. Nozzle Monolithic Requires asupport wafer IJ07 through chambers are etched in the front Low costIJ08, IJ09, IJ10, substrate of the wafer, and the wafer is Nodifferential expansion IJ13 thinned from the back side. IJ14, IJ15,IJ16, Nozzles are then etched in the IJ19 etch stop layer. IJ21, IJ23,IJ25, IJ26 No nozzle Various methods have been tried No nozzles tobecome Difficult to control drop position Ricoh 1995 Sekiya plate toeliminate the nozzles entirely, clogged accurately et al U.S. Pat. No.5,412,413 to prevent nozzle clogging. These Crosstalk problems 1993Hadimioglu et include thermal bubble al EUP 550,192 mechanisms andacoustic lens 1993 Elrod et al mechanisms EUP 572,220 Trough Each dropejector has a trough Reduced manufacturing Drop firing direction issensitive to IJ35 through which a paddle moves. complexity wicking.There is no nozzle plate. Monolithic Nozzle slit The elimination ofnozzle holes No nozzles to become Difficult to control drop position1989 Saito et al U.S. Pat. No. instead of and replacement by a slitclogged accurately 4,799,068 individual encompassing many actuatorCrosstalk problems nozzles positions reduces nozzle clogging, butincreases crosstalk due to ink surface waves

DROP EJECTION DIRECTION Ejection direction Description AdvantagesDisadvantages Examples Edge Ink flow is along the surface of Simpleconstruction Nozzles limited to edge Canon (‘edge the chip, and inkdrops are ejected No silicon etching High resolution is difficultBubblejet 1979 shooter’) from the chip edge. required Fast colorprinting requires one Endo et al GB Good heat sinking via print head percolor patent 2,007,162 substrate Xerox heater-in- Mechanically strongpit 1990 Ease of chip handing Hawkins et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,181Tone-jet Surface Ink flow is along the surface of No bulk siliconMaximum ink flow is severely Hewlett- (‘roof shooter’) the chip, and inkdrops are ejected etching required restricted Packard TIJ from the chipsurface, normal to Silicon can make an 1982 Vaught et the plane of thechip. effective heat sink al U.S. Pat. No. Mechanical strength 4,490,728IJ02, IJ11, IJ12, IJ20 IJ22 Through chip, Ink flow is through the chip,and High ink flow Requires bulk silicon etching Silverbrook, EP forwardink drops are ejected from the Suitable for pagewidth 0771 658 A2 (‘upshooter’) front surface of the chip. print and related High nozzlepacking patent density therefore low applications manufacturing costIJ04, IJ17, IJ18, IJ24 IJ27–IJ45 Through chip, Ink flow is through thechip, and High ink flow Requires wafer thinning IJ01, IJ03, IJ05,reverse ink drops are ejected from the rear Suitable for pagewidthRequires special handling during IJ06 (‘down surface of the chip. printmanufacture IJ07, IJ08, IJ09, shooter’) High nozzle packing IJ10 densitytherefore low IJ13, IJ14, IJ15, manufacturing cost IJ16 IJ19, IJ21,IJ23, IJ25 IJ26 Through Ink flow is through the actuator, Suitable forPagewidth print heads require Epson Stylus actuator which is notfabricated as part of piezoelectric print several thousand connectionsto Tektronix hot the same substrate as the drive heads drive circuitsmelt transistors. Cannot be manufactured in piezoelectric ink standardCMOS fabs jets Complex assembly required

INK TYPE Ink type Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples Aqueous,dye Water based ink which typically Environmentally friendly Slow dryingMost existing contains: water, dye, surfactant, No odor Corrosiveinkjets humectant, and biocide. Bleeds on paper All IJ series ink jetsModern ink dyes have high water- May strikethrough Silverbrook, EPfastness, light fastness Cockles paper 0771 658 A2 and related patentapplications Aqueous, Water based ink which typically Environmentallyfriendly Slow drying IJ02, IJ04, IJ21, pigment contains: water, pigment,No odor Corrosive IJ26 surfactant, humectant, and Reduced bleed Pigmentmay clog nozzles IJ27, IJ30 biocide. Reduced wicking Pigment may clogactuator Silverbrook, EP Pigments have an advantage in Reducedstrikethrough mechanisms 0771 658 A2 and reduced bleed, wicking andCockles paper related patent strikethrough. applications Piezoelectricink- jets Thermal ink jets (with significant restrictions) Methyl EthylMEK is a highly volatile solvent Very fast drying Odorous All IJ seriesink jets Ketone (MEK) used for industrial printing on Prints on variousFlammable difficult surfaces such as substrates such as metals aluminumcans. and plastics Alcohol Alcohol based inks can be used Fast dryingSlight odor All IJ series ink jets (ethanol, 2- where the printer mustoperate at Operates at sub-freezing Flammable butanol, and temperaturesbelow the freezing temperatures others) point of water. An example ofthis Reduced paper cockle is in-camera consumer Low cost photographicprinting. Phase change The ink is solid at room No drying time-ink Highviscosity Tektronix hot melt (hot melt) temperature, and is melted inthe instantly freezes on the Printed ink typically has a ‘waxy’ feelpiezoelectric ink jets print head before jetting. Hot melt print mediumPrinted pages may ‘block’ 1989 Nowak U.S. Pat. No. inks are usually waxbased, with a Almost any print medium Ink temperature may be above the4,820,346 melting point around 80° C. After can be used curie point ofpermanent magnets All IJ series ink jets jetting the ink freezes almostNo paper cockle occurs Ink heaters consume power instantly uponcontacting the print No wicking occurs Long warm-up time medium or atransfer roller. No bleed occurs No strikethrough occurs Oil Oil basedinks are extensively High solubility medium High viscosity: this is asignificant All IJ series ink jets used in offset printing. They havefor some dyes limitation for use in inkjets, which advantages inimproved Does not cockle paper usually require a low viscosity. Somecharacteristics on paper Does not wick through short chain andmulti-branched oils (especially no wicking or cockle). paper have asufficiently low viscosity. Oil soluble dies and pigments are Slowdrying required. Microemulsion A microemulsion is a stable, self Stopsink bleed Viscosity higher than water All IJ series ink jets formingemulsion of oil, water, High dye solubility Cost is slightly higher thanwater and surfactant. The characteristic Water, oil, and based ink dropsize is less than 100 nm, and is amphiphilic soluble dies Highsurfactant concentration determined by the preferred can be usedrequired (around 5%) curvature of the surfactant. Can stabilize pigmentsuspensionsInk Jet Printing

A large number of new forms of ink jet printers have been developed tofacilitate alternative ink jet technologies for the image processing anddate distribution system. Various combinations of ink jet devices can beincluded in printer devices incorporated as part of the presentinvention. Australian Provisional Patent Applications relating to theseink jets which are specifically incorporated by cross reference include:

Australian Provision- Filing al Number Date Title PO8066 15-Jul-97 ImageCreation Method and Apparatus (IJ01) PO8072 15-Jul-97 Image CreationMethod and Apparatus (IJ02) PO8040 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method andApparatus (IJ03) PO8071 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus(IJ04) PO8047 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ05)PO8035 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ06) PO804415-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ07) PO8063 15-Jul-97Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ08) PO8057 15-Jul-97 ImageCreation Method and Apparatus (IJ09) PO8056 15-Jul-97 Image CreationMethod and Apparatus (IJ10) PO8069 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method andApparatus (IJ11) PO8049 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus(IJ12) PO8036 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ13)PO8048 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ14) PO807015-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ15) PO8067 15-Jul-97Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ16) PO8001 15-Jul-97 ImageCreation Method and Apparatus (IJ17) PO8038 15-Jul-97 Image CreationMethod and Apparatus (IJ18) PO8033 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method andApparatus (IJ19) PO8002 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus(IJ20) PO8068 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ21)PO8062 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ22) PO803415-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ23) PO8039 15-Jul-97Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ24) PO8041 15-Jul-97 ImageCreation Method and Apparatus (IJ25) PO8004 15-Jul-97 Image CreationMethod and Apparatus (IJ26) PO8037 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method andApparatus (IJ27) PO8043 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus(IJ28) PO8042 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ29)PO8064 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ30) PO938923-Sep-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ31) PO9391 23-Sep-97Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ32) PP0888 12-Dec-97 ImageCreation Method and Apparatus (IJ33) PP0891 12-Dec-97 Image CreationMethod and Apparatus (IJ34) PP0890 12-Dec-97 Image Creation Method andApparatus (IJ35) PP0873 12-Dec-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus(IJ36) PP0993 12-Dec-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ37)PP0890 12-Dec-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ38) PP139819-Jan-98 An Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ39) PP2592 25-Mar-98An Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ40) PP2593 25-Mar-98 ImageCreation Method and Apparatus (IJ41) PP3991 9-Jun-98 Image CreationMethod and Apparatus (IJ42) PP3987 9-Jun-98 Image Creation Method andApparatus (IJ43) PP3985 9-Jun-98 Image Creation Method and Apparatus(IJ44) PP3983 9-Jun-98 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ45)Ink Manufacturing

Furthering, the present application may utilize advance semiconductorfabrication techniques in the construction of large arrays of ink jetprinters. Suitable manufacturing techniques are described in thefollowing Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated hereby cross-reference:

Australian Provisional Number Filing Date Title PO7935 15-Jul-97 AMethod of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM01) PO793615-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM02)PO7937 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus(IJM03) PO8061 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image CreationApparatus (IJM04) PO8054 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an ImageCreation Apparatus (IJM05) PO8065 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture ofan Image Creation Apparatus (IJM06) PO8055 15-Jul-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM07) PO8053 15-Jul-97 AMethod of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM08) PO807815-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM09)PO7933 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus(IJM10) PO7950 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image CreationApparatus (IJM11) PO7949 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an ImageCreation Apparatus (IJM12) PO8060 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture ofan Image Creation Apparatus (IJM13) PO8059 15-Jul-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM14) PO8073 15-Jul-97 AMethod of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM15) PO807615-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM16)PO8075 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus(IJM17) PO8079 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image CreationApparatus (IJM18) PO8050 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an ImageCreation Apparatus (IJM19) PO8052 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture ofan Image Creation Apparatus (IJM20) PO7948 15-Jul-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM21) PO7951 15-Jul-97 AMethod of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM22) PO807415-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM23)PO7941 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus(IJM24) PO8077 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image CreationApparatus (IJM25) PO8058 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an ImageCreation Apparatus (IJM26) PO8051 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture ofan Image Creation Apparatus (IJM27) PO8045 15-Jul-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM28) PO7952 15-Jul-97 AMethod of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM29) PO804615-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM30)PO8503 11-Aug-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus(IJM30a) PO9390 23-Sep-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image CreationApparatus (IJM31) PO9392 23-Sep-97 A Method of Manufacture of an ImageCreation Apparatus (IJM32) PP0889 12-Dec-97 A Method of Manufacture ofan Image Creation Apparatus (IJM35) PP0887 12-Dec-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM36) PP0882 12-Dec-97 AMethod of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM37) PP087412-Dec-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM38)PP1396 19-Jan-98 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus(IJM39) PP2591 25-Mar-98 A Method of Manufacture of an Image CreationApparatus (IJM41) PP3989 9-Jun-98 A Method of Manufacture of an ImageCreation Apparatus (IJM40) PP3990 9-Jun-98 A Method of Manufacture of anImage Creation Apparatus (IJM42) PP3986 9-Jun-98 A Method of Manufactureof an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM43) PP3984 9-Jun-98 A Method ofManufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM44) PP3982 9-Jun-98 AMethod of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM45)Fluid Supply

Further, the present application may utilize an ink delivery system tothe ink jet head. delivery systems relating to the supply of ink to aseries of ink jet nozzles are described in the following Australianprovisional patent specifications, the disclosure of which are herebyincorporated by cross-reference:

Australian Provisional Number Filing Date Title PO8003 15-Jul-97 SupplyMethod and Apparatus (F1) PO8005 15-Jul-97 Supply Method and Apparatus(F2) PO9404 23-Sep-97 A Device and Method (F3)Mems Technology

Further, the present application may utilize advanced semiconductormicroelectromechanical techniques in the construction of large arrays ofink jet printers. Suitable microelectromechanical techniques aredescribed in the following Australian provisional patent specificationsincorporated here by cross-reference:

Australian Provisional Number Filing Date Title PO7943 15-Jul-97 Adevice (MEMS01) PO8006 15-Jul-97 A device (MEMS02) PO8007 15-Jul-97 Adevice (MEMS03) PO8008 15-Jul-97 A device (MEMS04) PO8010 15-Jul-97 Adevice (MEMS05) PO8011 15-Jul-97 A device (MEMS06) PO7947 15-Jul-97 Adevice (MEMS07) PO7945 15-Jul-97 A device (MEMS08) PO7944 15-Jul-97 Adevice (MEMS09) PO7946 15-Jul-97 A device (MEMS10) PO9393 23-Sep-97 ADevice and Method (MEMS11) PP0875 12-Dec-97 A Device (MEMS12) PP089412-Dec-97 A Device and Method (MEMS13)IR Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of adisposable camera system such as those described in the followingAustralian provisional patent specifications incorporated here bycross-reference:

Australian Provisional Number Filing Date Title PP0895 12-Dec-97 AnImage Creation Method and Apparatus (IR01) PP0870 12-Dec-97 A Device andMethod (IR02) PP0869 12-Dec-97 A Device and Method (IR04) PP088712-Dec-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IR05) PP0885 12-Dec-97 AnImage Production System (IR06) PP0884 12-Dec-97 Image Creation Methodand Apparatus (IR10) PP0886 12-Dec-97 Image Creation Method andApparatus (IR12) PP0871 12-Dec-97 A Device and Method (IR13) PP087612-Dec-97 An Image Processing Method and Apparatus (IR14) PP087712-Dec-97 A Device and Method (IR16) PP0878 12-Dec-97 A Device andMethod (IR17) PP0879 12-Dec-97 A Device and Method (IR18) PP088312-Dec-97 A Device and Method (IR19) PP0880 12-Dec-97 A Device andMethod (IR20) PP0881 12-Dec-97 A Device and Method (IR21)DotCard Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of a datadistribution system such as that described in the following Australianprovisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference:

Australian Provisional Number Filing Date Title PP2370 16-Mar-98 DataProcessing Method and Apparatus (Dot01) PP2371 16-Mar-98 Data ProcessingMethod and Apparatus (Dot02)Artcam Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of cameraand data processing techniques such as an Artcam type device asdescribed in the following Australian provisional patent specificationsincorporated here by cross-reference:

Australian Provisional Number Filing Date Title PO7991 15-Jul-97 ImageProcessing Method and Apparatus (ART01) PO8505 11-Aug-97 ImageProcessing Method and Apparatus (ART01a) PO7988 15-Jul-97 ImageProcessing Method and Apparatus (ART02) PO7993 15-Jul-97 ImageProcessing Method and Apparatus (ART03) PO8012 15-Jul-97 ImageProcessing Method and Apparatus (ART05) PO8017 15-Jul-97 ImageProcessing Method and Apparatus (ART06) PO8014 15-Jul-97 Media Device(ART07) PO8025 15-Jul-97 Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART08)PO8032 15-Jul-97 Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART09) PO799915-Jul-97 Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART10) PO7998 15-Jul-97Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART11) PO8031 15-Jul-97 ImageProcessing Method and Apparatus (ART12) PO8030 15-Jul-97 Media Device(ART13) PO8498 11-Aug-97 Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART14)PO7997 15-Jul-97 Media Device (ART15) PO7979 15-Jul-97 Media Device(ART16) PO8015 15-Jul-97 Media Device (ART17) PO7978 15-Jul-97 MediaDevice (ART18) PO7982 15-Jul-97 Data Processing Method and Apparatus(ART19) PO7989 15-Jul-97 Data Processing Method and Apparatus (ART20)PO8019 15-Jul-97 Media Processing Method and Apparatus (ART21) PO798015-Jul-97 Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART22) PO7942 15-Jul-97Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART23) PO8018 15-Jul-97 ImageProcessing Method and Apparatus (ART24) PO7938 15-Jul-97 ImageProcessing Method and Apparatus (ART25) PO8016 15-Jul-97 ImageProcessing Method and Apparatus (ART26) PO8024 15-Jul-97 ImageProcessing Method and Apparatus (ART27) PO7940 15-Jul-97 Data ProcessingMethod and Apparatus (ART28) PO7939 15-Jul-97 Data Processing Method andApparatus (ART29) PO8501 11-Aug-97 Image Processing Method and Apparatus(ART30) PO8500 11-Aug-97 Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART31)PO7987 15-Jul-97 Data Processing Method and Apparatus (ART32) PO802215-Jul-97 Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART33) PO8497 11-Aug-97Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART30) PO8029 15-Jul-97 SensorCreation Method and Apparatus (ART36) PO7985 15-Jul-97 Data ProcessingMethod and Apparatus (ART37) PO8020 15-Jul-97 Data Processing Method andApparatus (ART38) PO8023 15-Jul-97 Data Processing Method and Apparatus(ART39) PO9395 23-Sep-97 Data Processing Method and Apparatus (ART4)PO8021 15-Jul-97 Data Processing Method and Apparatus (ART40) PO850411-Aug-97 Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART42) PO8000 15-Jul-97Data Processing Method and Apparatus (ART43) PO7977 15-Jul-97 DataProcessing Method and Apparatus (ART44) PO7934 15-Jul-97 Data ProcessingMethod and Apparatus (ART45) PO7990 15-Jul-97 Data Processing Method andApparatus (ART46) PO8499 11-Aug-97 Image Processing Method and Apparatus(ART47) PO8502 11-Aug-97 Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART48)PO7981 15-Jul-97 Data Processing Method and Apparatus (ART50) PO798615-Jul-97 Data Processing Method and Apparatus (ART51) PO7983 15-Jul-97Data Processing Method and Apparatus (ART52) PO8026 15-Jul-97 ImageProcessing Method and Apparatus (ART53) PO8027 15-Jul-97 ImageProcessing Method and Apparatus (ART54) PO8028 15-Jul-97 ImageProcessing Method and Apparatus (ART56) PO9394 23-Sep-97 ImageProcessing Method and Apparatus (ART57) PO9396 23-Sep-97 Data ProcessingMethod and Apparatus (ART58) PO9397 23-Sep-97 Data Processing Method andApparatus (ART59) PO9398 23-Sep-97 Data Processing Method and Apparatus(ART60) PO9399 23-Sep-97 Data Processing Method and Apparatus (ART61)PO9400 23-Sep-97 Data Processing Method and Apparatus (ART62) PO940123-Sep-97 Data Processing Method and Apparatus (ART63) PO9402 23-Sep-97Data Processing Method and Apparatus (ART64) PO9403 23-Sep-97 DataProcessing Method and Apparatus (ART65) PO9405 23-Sep-97 Data ProcessingMethod and Apparatus (ART66) PP0959 16-Dec-97 A Data Processing Methodand Apparatus (ART68) PP1397 19-Jan-98 A Media Device (ART69)

1. A recyclable device comprising a chassis supporting: an image sensorfor sensing an image; a pagewidth print head for printing the sensedimage; an ink supply cartridge for supplying ink to the print head; asupply of print media on to which said image is printed; a cuttingmechanism for cutting the print media so as to separate the printedimages from the supply of print media; a counter mechanism coupled tothe cutting mechanism so as to decrease a counter upon each operation ofthe cutting mechanism thereby indicating a number of images printed bythe print head; a controller for controlling the device, the controllerhaving high current drive transistors for driving a media transportmotor for transporting the print media past the print head and a cuttingmotor for operating the cutting mechanism, the controller beingconfigured to never operate the high current drive transistors and theimage sensor simultaneously; and a casing surrounding and encasing saidchassis so that the ink supply cartridge is unable to be accessedwithout destruction of the casing, the casing having a slot throughwhich the counter is viewable.
 2. The device of claim 1 in which thecasing comprises two shells, the shells being bonded together during oneof a manufacturing process and a recycling process.
 3. The device ofclaim 1 in which the casing is of a recyclable material.
 4. The deviceof claim 1 wherein the ink supply cartridge defines a plurality of inksupply channels, each of which is in communication with the print headand each channel containing a different color ink, in use, for enablingfull color printing to be effected.
 5. The device of claim 4 in whichthe ink supply cartridge includes an inlet opening in communication witheach channel via which said channel is refilled during recycling of thedevice.
 6. The device of claim 4 in which each channel has a ventassociated therewith, the vent being open during a refilling operationof the channel to allow egress of air from the channel and the ventbeing sealed by a seal after the refilling operation.
 7. The device ofclaim 6 in which the seal is a replaceable seal to be removed during therefilling operation and replaced by a new seal after completion of therefilling operation.